Blog
Nov 8, 2016
CAPTAIN THOMAS HURD – THE FATHER OF THE HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE (1808-1823)
Captain Thomas Hurd, one of the members of the Chart Committee, was appointed to supersede Dalrymple in May 1808. Born in 1747 in Plymouth, Thomas Hurd was destined to have a formidable career at sea. He joined the Navy as an “able seaman” in September 1768 aboard HMS Cornwall. Hurd carried on serving the Navy
Oct 28, 2016
THE ORIGIN OF THE SEA CHART AND THE FIRST NATIONAL HYDROGRAPHER
The first official hydrographic survey of British waters begun in 1683, when King Charles II charted Captain Greenville Collins with carrying out a survey of the coast and waters of his kingdoms, and placed the Royal Yacht Merlin at his disposal for the work. He took ten years over this task and his surveys were
Oct 4, 2016
THE SEA CHART
These series of Posts are dedicated to the Nautical Chart or the Sea Chart – the alternative to the familiar terrestrial or land map, but relating to sea and coastal features and aids to navigation. The Sea Chart had served man kind and enabled him to trade, explore and colonise, as illustrated by the “Hull
Sep 16, 2016
KNOWING THE DATUM
The development of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System began under the cloak of military secrecy. The goal was to create a navigation and positioning system that would support military operations of the USA and its allies twenty-four hours a day, in all weather conditions, anywhere in the world – from beneath the surface of the