INFORMATION BRIEF TO SMC The International Hydrographic Organisation Capt A. Kampfer: Hydrographer SA Navy
AIM To provide a brief overview of the International Hydrographic Organisation regarding its objectives, regional structures and joining procedures.
THE INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC ORGANIZATION The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is an intergovernmental, consultative and technical organisation established in 1921 to support the safety-of-navigation, and the protection of the marine environment.
Objectives of the IHO The coordination of the activities of the 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 MEMBER STATES 76
Structure of the IHO IHB Member States Conference IHO IHO IMO IMO IHO HGE HGE IMO HGE Reg RegComms RegComms RegComms RegComms RegComms CHRIS TSMAD WEND C&SMWG
Regional Hydrographic Commissions Nordic Hydrographic Commission (NHC) North Sea Hydrographic Commission (NSHC) East Asia Hydrographic Commission (EAHC) US/Canada Hydrographic Commission (USCHC) Mediterranean and Black Seas Hydrographic Commission (MBSHC) Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission (BSHC) Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC) South-East Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SEPHC) South-West Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SWPHC) MESO American & Caribbean Sea Hydrographic Committee (MACHC) Southern Africa and Islands Hydrographic Commission (SAIHC) North Indian Ocean Hydrographic Commission (NIOHC) ROPME Sea Area Hydrographic Commission (RSAHC) IHO Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica * Establishment under consideration.
Southern Africa and Islands Hydrographic Commission (SA&IHC) Chairperson: Captain A. KAMPFER Vice Chairperson: Mr. Albano Gove Members: France, Norway, Mozambique, Republic of South Africa, UK & Mauritius. Associate Members: Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Portugal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Malawi.
UN Assembly Resolution A/58/240 (2003) Welcomes the work of the IHO and its regional commissions, encourages States to become IHO members, supports the IHO trust fund and examines the possibility of partnership with the private sector; Invites 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; Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries to improve hydrographic services and production of nautical charts.
Procedure for Membership Application A Government should apply for accession to the intergovernmental Convention on the IHO, through diplomatic channels, to the Government of the Principality of Monaco, the Depository Government for the IHO Convention. The application must indicate the tonnage of the country s registered fleets. The Government of Monaco will notify all other IHO Member Governments of the application and will request their approval. Once two-thirds of members have signified their approval, the Government of Monaco will inform the acceding Government that its admission has been approved.
Procedure for Membership Application(cont.) The acceding Government must then deposit an instrument of accession with the Government of Monaco. It becomes a Party to the Convention and Member of the IHO on the date on which the instrument of accession is received in Monaco. Annual contributions to the organisation are based upon the shipping tonnages of Member States. Each Government subscribe to two shares and supplementary shares are based on a scale starting at a 100 000 gross tons of shipping. The value of one share is currently 3 906,35 euros.
www.iho.shom.fr
Major Shipping Routes
S-55 Status of Hydrographic Surveys A1/A2 = % adequately surveyed for depths of 0-200m / >200m B1/B2 = % requiring re-survey at larger scale or to modern standards for depths of 0-200m / >200m C1/C2 = % which has never been systematically surveyed for depths of 0-200m / >200m An entry of -1 in column A1 indicates inland waters.
UN Assembly Resolution A/53/32 (1998) 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 hydrography and nautical information is made available on a worldwide scale.
PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING AND NAUTICAL CHARTING CAPABILITY Phase One Collection and circulation of nautical information, necessary to maintain existing charts and publications up to date Form National Maritime Safety Committee Create/improve current infrastructure to collect and circulate information Strengthen links with charting authority to enable updating of charts and publications Minimal training needed Phase Two Creation of a surveying capability to conduct: Coastal projects Off-shore projects Establish capacity to enable surveys of ports and their approaches Maintain adequate aids to navigation Build capacity to enable surveys in support of coastal and offshore areas Requires funding for training & equipment or contract survey work. Phase Three Produce charts and publications independently Is Phase 3 needed? (requires high investment for production, distribution and updating) Alternatively, bi-lateral agreements can provide easier solutions and rewards.
Services Required Charts of harbour approaches and harbours Charts of the vessel routes Remainder of the coastal region Areas beyond those mentioned above (may not be a priority except for the outer limit of the continental shelf) Charts must be maintained Buoys and lights NAVAREA Information
Steps to be Taken Sensitise the Government of a coastal State to the advantages of providing these services Issue to be accepted as a major priority Establish authority (responsibility is sometimes fragmented amongst a number of Government Departments) Prepare an holistic appreciation and plan Identify projects Obtain support for the plan and projects Any development should generate its own funds and become self-sustaining
Steps to be Taken (cont.) Donor and funding agencies to be approached if necessary Project managers and contractors appointed Identify technical and equipment requirements Assess and provide the necessary training
INPUTS TO SAIHC : SMC PLAN Capacity Building Projects Communication Training Requirements IHO site visits Mobile Survey Team
CONCLUSION Hydrography, aids to navigation and maritime safety information are a part, and possibly the vital elements, in providing the opportunities for the development of new and better trade. In addition data is urgently needed to substantiate national maritime claims in accordance with UNCLOS. The problem has to be seen in a holistic manner and any project or development work undertaken has to leave in place the authority and infrastructure to control them, the necessary financial planning, the mechanisms to ensure viability, and trained personnel.
Tel: +27 21 787 2412 Fax: +27 21 787 2233 email: hydrosan@iafrica.co.za WEB: www.sanho.co.za