Dr. Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), advocates for heightened involvement of the Regional Maritime University in Accra and the Regional Maritime Academy of Sciences and Technologies of the Sea (ARSTM) in Abidjan in conducting hydrographic surveys across MOWCA member nations.
Addressing attendees at the 18th conference of the East Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC) in Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Adalikwu underscores the importance of supporting these two MOWCA training institutions to undertake hydrographic surveys. The objective is to enhance navigational safety for ships and foster sustainable marine environments throughout West and Central Africa.
Dr. Adalikwu emphasizes the capacity of both institutions to host seminars and develop hydrography programs as part of their training for marine engineers. This proposition aligns with the International Hydrographic Organisation’s (IHO) initiative to establish centers of excellence in hydrographic training.
In discussions held on the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Adalikwu engages with Dr. John Nyberg of the IHO and senior officials of EAtHC. It is agreed that a team from EAtHC will visit the Regional Maritime University and ARSTM to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a hydrography program at the engineer level.
Dr. Adalikwu highlights the eligibility of MOWCA maritime training institutions for such programs, citing the adequacy of their facilities, availability of qualified lecturers, potential partnerships with international universities, and the presence of hydrography agencies within the public administration or port authorities of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Following fruitful discussions, MOWCA and EAtHC commit to maintaining communication and scheduling assessment visits at a later date. Both parties resolve to invite the IHO to the 19th session of the MOWCA General Assembly in the last quarter of 2025, aiming to enlighten ministers on the advantages of integrating hydrography into their maritime programs.
The EAtHC, operating under the auspices of the IHO, plays a vital role in coordinating hydrography and cartography activities for navigation safety and environmental protection along the coastal regions from France to Angola, encompassing the territories of MOWCA member states.