2nd IHO CAPACITY BUILDING SEMINAR

NATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

MACHC
Acapulco, Mexico, 02 – 04 October 2006.

Unit 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE SEMINAR
 CONTENT
I.- OBJECTIVE OF THE SEMINAR
II.- GENERAL CONCEPTS OF HYDROGRAPHY
III.- OTHER AREAS OF APPLICATION OF HYDROGRAPHY
IV.- THE INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO RELATED TO
HYDROGRAPHY
V.- OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
VI.- IMO – MISSION – OBJECTIVES – STRUCTURE
VII.- SAFETY OF NAVIGATION & PROTECTION OF THE
MARINE ENVIRONMENT
VIII.- SOLAS V / REGULATION 9 – STATES’ GENERAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
 OBJECTIVE OF THE SEMINAR

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

THE OBJECTIVE
to raise awareness at governmental level
of the importance of hydrography to safety
of navigation and national economic
development, and to explore initiatives of
common regional interest.
DEFINITION OF HYDROGRAPHY

is that branch of applied sciences which deals

with the measurement and description of the
features of the seas and coastal areas for the
primary purpose of navigation and all other
marine purposes and activities, including –
inter alia- offshore activities, research,
protection of the environment, and prediction
services.
THE FLEET
 THE
MERCHANT MARINE
OTHER AREAS
OF
APPLICATION
OF
HYDROGRAPHY
 THE INTERNATIONAL
HYDROGRAPHIC SCENARIO
 1985, UNCLOS

- Establishment of baselines, normal or straight

baselines.
- Measurement of the extention of Territorial Sea,
C.Zone and EEZ
- Definition of the Continental Shelf external limits /
extention beyond 200 nautical miles
- Identifying tracks, trafic separation schemes, sea
lanes and inocent passage routes
- Deploying submarine cables and ducts, and
drilling operations
 1998 UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION
A/53/32

- Art 21 “ Invites States to cooperate in carrying

out hydrographic surveys and in providing
nautical services for the purpose of ensuring
safe navigation as well as to ensure the greatest
uniformity in charts and nautical publications
and to coordinate their activities so that
hydrographic and nautical information is made
available on a worldwide scale”
 2002 SOLAS V, REGULATION 9
« Hydrographic Services »

Contracting Governments undertake to

arrange for the collection and compilation
of hydrographic data and the publication,
dissemination and keeping up to date of
all nautical information necessary for safe
navigation.
 2002 SOLAS V

- While a developing Coastal State may rely upon

another State for the partial or total provision of
services, they should be under the management
of a properly constituted and resourced maritime
safety authority.
2003 UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION
A/RES/58/240

o welcome the work of the IHO and its regional

commissions, encourage States to become IHO
members, support the IHO trust fund and examine
the possibility of partnership with the private
sector;
o invite IHO and IMO to continue their coordinated
efforts and adopt joint measures with respect to
enhancing transitioning to ENCs, and to increase
coverage of hydrographic information; and
o encourage intensified efforts to build capacity for
developing countries to improve hydrographic
services and production of nautical charts.
 2003 IMO RESOLUTION 1.958(23)

In addition to Regulation 9,
- (a) promote the use of (ECDIS) together with the use and
further production of official (ENCs);
- (b) co-operate, in the collection and dissemination of
hydrographic data with other Governments having little or
no hydrographic capability;
- (c) promote support for Governments which may request
technical assistance in hydrographic matters, in
consultation with, and with the assistance of, the
Organization and the International Hydrographic
Organization;
- (d) establish hydrographic offices where they do not exist,
in consultation with IHO;
 2004 UNITED NATIONS
RESOLUTION 59/24
- Recognizing that hydrographic surveys and nautical
charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at
sea, environmental protection, including vulnerable marine
ecosystems and the economics of the global shipping
industry
- Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for
developing countries, in particular for the least developed
countries and small island developing States, as well as
coastal African States, to improve hydrographic services
and the production of nautical charts,
 2005 IMO MSC CIRCULAR 1179

- Refers to deficiencies in hydrographic surveying and

nautical charting worldwide and their impact on safety of
navigation and protection of the marine environment.
- Reminds Member Governments on their obligations under
the Provisions of regulation V/9 and urge them to take
actions to remedy the situation.
- Member Governments are invited to bring the attached
annex to the attention of their national authorities
responsible for Hydrography, Nautical Cartography and
Safety of Navigation, as well as of other appropriate parties.
 2005 IMO MSC CIRCULAR 1179

A Responsibilities of Coastal States

B Status of hydrographic surveying
and
nautical charting world-wide
C Action Required

IHO can provide Capacity Building

support to assist any State to
establish or enhance its
hydrographic services
 2005 UN RESOLUTION 60/30

“ Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity

for developing countries, in particular for the
least developed countries and small islands
developing States, as well as coastal African
States, to improve hydrographic services and the
production of nautical charts, including electronic
charts, as well as the mobilization of resources
and building capacity with the support from
international financial institutions and the donor
community.”
 RATIONALITY

All what has been detailed in this

section constitutes the
rationality under which the IHO is
making a great effort in Capacity Building,
especially oriented to the
MACHC
 IHO EFFORTS

- RHCs (MACHC)
- IHOCBC
- CB Strategy
- CB Management Plan & Work Program
- CB Fund
- National Co-ordination Committees

We believe we are in the right track, but that is not all.

We need the strong involvement of countries in this
endeavour. This Seminar has been thought as a
facilitator of this process.
 OTHER INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED:
 IHO MISSION

“to facilitate the provision of adequate

and timely hydrographic information for
world-wide marine navigation and other
purposes, through the co-ordination of
the endeavours of national hydrographic
offices”
 IHO OBJECTIVES

The co-ordination of the activities of national

hydrographic offices ;
The greatest possible uniformity in nautical charts
and documents;
The adoption of reliable and efficient methods of
carrying out and exploiting hydrographic surveys;
The development of the sciences in the field of
hydrography and the techniques employed in
descriptive oceanography.
 IHO STRUCTURE

CONVENTION AND REGULATIONS

INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC
CONFERENCE
INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC BUREAU
REGIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC COMMISSIONS
COMMITTEES, COMISSIONS & WORKING
GROUPS
 IALA

The purpose of IALA is to ensure that

seafarers are provided with effective and
harmonised marine Aids to Navigation
services worldwide to assist in safe
navigation of shipping and protection of
the environment.
 IOC

The purpose of the Commission is to promote

international cooperation and to coordinate
programmes in research, services and capacity-
building, in order to learn more about the nature
and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and
to apply that knowledge for the improvement of
management, sustainable development, the
protection of the marine environment, and the
decision-making processes of its Member States.
 SAR
International Convention on Maritime Search and
Rescue, 1979

The 1979 Convention, adopted at a Conference in

Hamburg, was aimed at developing an
international SAR plan, so that, no matter where
an accident occurs, the rescue of persons in
distress at sea will be co-ordinated by a SAR
organization and, when necessary, by co-
operation between neighbouring SAR
organizations.
 MARPOL

The MARPOL Convention is the main

international convention covering prevention of
pollution of the marine environment by ships
from operational or accidental causes.
 INMARSAT

INMARSAT came into being as an IGO in 1979 to

provide global safety and other communications
for the maritime community. in 1999 it became the
first IGO to be transformed into a private
company.

INMARSAT form the mainstay of the Global

Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS),
 IMO

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is

the United Nations' specialized agency
responsible for improving maritime safety and
preventing pollution from ships. IMO’s objectives
can be summarised by the phrase:

SAFER SHIPPING AND CLEANER OCEANS.

 PRESENTACION IMO

INCLUIR PRESENTACION DEL SR.

ROACH
 FINAL WORDS

We strongly invite you to take

advantage of this opportunity
and we expect an active
participation from your side.

THANKS
FOR YOUR ATTENTION