Congratulations to the 2025-26 S-5B Graduating Class — Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

A huge congratulations to the graduating class of the 2025-26 IIC Academy S-5B Hydrographic Surveyor Program!

Recently, a Graduation Ceremony was held for the IIC Academy 2025-26 S-5B Hydrographic Surveyor Program students at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Having submitted their Reports of Survey and data, the students gave presentations on their four-week Comprehensive Final Field Project (CFFP) prior to the formal certificate presentation.

The ceremony graduated 9 students from the region, representing Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. The cohort included industry professionals, government representatives, and for the first time 3 students from the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

This program is a significant undertaking: 13 weeks of theoretical learning, followed by an intensive in-person practical phase, and then 4 weeks of final assessment. This group of students performed exceptionally well.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Discovery Marine Limited facilities and attended by friends, colleagues, industry representatives, and IIC leadership and instructors. We were privileged to have the Hydrographer METOC RNZN, CDR Tim Hall, and RNZN staff; representatives from Discovery Marine Limited, Ocean Infinity Marine Services, and Port of Tauranga Limited; Brad Cooper, Chair of the NZR Australasian Hydrographic Society; and BJ, the legend skipper. It was also wonderful to welcome so many current and former RNZN Hydrographic Surveyors.

This is the first time that a Practical and CFFP has been held in New Zealand, and a large part of the success was due to the fantastic local support provided by Discovery Marine Limited, Ocean Infinity, Acoustic Imaging, QPS, Seismic Asia Pacific, and Port of Tauranga Ltd.

Congratulations to all graduating students — we wish you every success in your careers. A sincere thank you also to the sponsoring organisations: Revelare Hydrospatial, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), RNZN, Department of Environment and Water South Australia, and Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

Enrolments for the 2026-27 global deliveries of the IIC Academy S-5B Hydrographic Surveyor and S-8B Marine Geospatial Information Programs, commencing September 2026, are now open. For more information contact us directly.