A ROYAL Navy officer who successfully completed an advanced surveying course has been rewarded for his excellence in team-building with his fellow students.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew Norgate, from Plymouth, has been presented with the Navy’s prestigious ‘David Croft Bowl’ for his morale-boosting contribution to the group success during their advanced course in Hydrographic and Meteorological surveying at HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth.

The award was created by the family of Lieutenant David Croft who died in a motoring accident in 2006. He was regarded as one of the finest navigating officers in the Royal Navy. Lt Croft previously conducted the advanced course after serving on Plymouth-based HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise.

Lt Cdr Norgate said: “It was really good team to work with. It’s hard to quantify the individual effort in a group course, the Royal Navy itself is a team and we rise and fall together. I am very happy I could help bring the group together and raise morale throughout this tough course.”

Andrew has been in the Royal Navy for 16 years, serving on survey ships and submarines. He now plans to move to Japan with his wife, Helen and two children, Yuna (7) and Adam (5) where he will complete an advanced staff course to further his career.

Lieutenant Commander Jeremy Grove, who runs the advanced course said: “Lieutenant Commander Norgate is a dedicated and thoroughly professional naval officer, whose excellent performance throughout the advanced survey course gained respect from his peers and the staff alike.’’

He added: “Andrew was fully involved in all aspects of the course, freely assisting and supporting his fellow students wherever possible and was the driving force behind the practical survey. He is a highly professional and dedicated surveyor. Andrew contributed a great deal to the success of the course and is a thoroughly deserving recipient of the David Croft Bowl."

The demanding course focuses on hydrography, educating students on conduct complex survey plans and analysing and presenting survey data and maintaining survey standards. Students travelled from military navies worldwide to study the world-class Royal Navy course.

After completion of the six-month course the students are awarded a post-graduate diploma in Hydrographic Surveying from Plymouth University which partners the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation in Plymouth Navy Base.

A further accreditation is by the International Hydrographic Organisation (Hydrographic surveyors’ governing body), which sets standards for surveyors and courses and which categorises the advanced course as top category A.