Introduction

The Hydrographic Department is part of Faculty of Maritime Studies (FMS) of King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) in Jeddah, Kingdome of Saudi Arabia. The Department is internationally accredited for CAT “A” and CAT “B” courses in Hydrography from FIG/ IHO/ ICA International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC).

Hydrographic department is offering graduation degree of 4 years with IHO CAT “A” Certificate, Master Degree of 2 years in Hydrography and Hydrographic Training Course (Cat ‘B’) of 24 weeks duration.

Aim of these courses is to train students in advance and practical training in the field of Hydrography to conduct Hydrographic Surveys and map Harbor, Coastal and deep sea for safety of navigation and all activities at sea including fishing, marine environmental protection and management, maritime boundary delimitation, national marine spatial data infrastructures, recreational boating, coastal zone management and maritime tourism

Department of Hydrography of Faculty of Maritime Studies (FMS) is home alongside Obhur Creek in Jeddah. The creek provides a unique opportunity to the students of Hydrography to carry out Hydrographic Surveys for collection of bathymetric data with Single Beam Echo Sounders (SBES) or Multibeam Echo Sounders (MBES). These surveys are planned and processed in Hydrographic Lab of FMS and conducted on the University Surveys Vessels; KAU-1(Coastal vessel) and KAU-2 (Shallow Water Vessel). Both the Vessels are equipped with SBES, MBES, positioning systems as well as all required systems for hydrographic surveys.