UK honours India's chief hydrographer with prestigious maritime award

India's National Hydrographer Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar has been honoured with the 2019 Alexander Dalrymple Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian hydrography and across the Indian Ocean Region, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) said on Monday (18).

The award, which was initiated by the UKHO in 2006, is named after the first Hydrographer of the Admiralty, Alexander Dalrymple.

Recipients of the award are selected by the executive committee of the UKHO for their efforts in raising the standards of hydrography, cartography and navigation around the world.

“Vice Admiral Badhwar is a true champion of the hydrographic profession. He has helped to unlock the economic potential of marine geospatial data and further hydrographic science in both India and the wider Indian Ocean region,” said Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes, the UK's national hydrographer at the UKHO.

“The important capacity building contribution of our friends and partners at the Indian Naval Hydrographic Office, who work in concert with the IHO (International Hydrographic Organisation), is helping to usher in a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable world. We look forward to continuing to work with Vice Admiral Badhwar and his team as we help all nations unlock the power of their blue economies.”

Having joined the Indian Navy in 1982, Badhwar has extensive hydrographic surveying experience. This includes work in the Gulfs of Kutch and Khambhat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands – widely recognised as some of the most challenging environments to survey in the world.

In his capacity as national hydrographer, Badhwar has been a pivotal member of the IHO's Capacity Building Sub-Committee since its creation.

He also leads the Indian Naval Hydrographic Office's own regional capacity building programmes.

In this role, Badhwar coordinates efforts to help Indian Ocean coastal states to develop their hydrographic and cartographic capabilities – an important step to unlocking each of these states’ blue economies.

“This recognition would not have been possible without the support of my colleagues in the National Hydrographic Department, who worked tirelessly towards achieving the goals set forth by the United Nations and IHO,” said Badhwar, reacting to the UK award. “Last but not the least, I am also grateful to all my fellow hydrographers worldwide for acknowledging our work.”

His contribution to the sustainable development of Indian Ocean coastal economies was also recognised last year, when he received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for “distinguished service of an exceptional order during peacetime”.