The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO)

(Established 1921)

Status

An inter-governmental organisation and consultative agency whose activities are restricted to those of a scientific or technical nature.

Mission

To promote easier and safer navigation at sea by coordinating the activities of national hydrographic offices.

Activities

The International Hydrographic Organisation was founded in 1921 as the International Hydrographic Bureau. In 1967 an intergovernmental Convention for the Organisation was drafted and, following ratification by the required majority of Member Governments, came into force in September 1970.

There are currently 73 Member States, each contributing an annual subscription based on the tonnage of the national naval and merchant fleets. The administration is carried out by a committee of three elected Directors, usually drawn from the retired heads of national hydrographic offices. There is a small permanent staff of technical experts and clerical assistants based at the IHO headquarters in Monaco.

In practice, most of the work is done either by circular letter initiated by the Directing Committee, or by committees formed from volunteers from the Member States. The United Kingdom is represented on the majority of the committees.

Every five years a Conference of the full membership is held. The conference functions are:

• the election of the Directing Committee for the next five years
• to direct the future work of the Organisation
• to examine reports on work carried out on its behalf
• to make decisions on technical and administrative proposals submitted by member governments

Objectives

The International Hydrographic Organisation Convention states that it "shall have a consultative and purely technical nature". Its objectives are to bring about:

• the coordination 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

In July 2002, the revised Chapter V of the IMO Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention entered into force. Under the new Regulation 9, the Contracting Governments of SOLAS are now required to maintain Hydrographic Services.

In the past few decades, the following important factors have emphasized the need for adequate hydrographic survey coverage and the production of nautical charts and publications as required by SOLAS Chapter V;

• the advent of exceptionally  deep draught VLCC ships,
• the need to protect the marine environment,
• changing maritime trade patterns,
• the growing importance of seabed resources,
• and the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention affecting areas of national jurisdiction.

The current key programmes of work are chart and nautical publication standardisation, and the development of standards for electronic chart data.

Chart Standardisation

The International Hydrographic Organisation is committed to the production of a worldwide set of International Charts, drawn to a common specification. The objective is to achieve a consistent series which avoids duplication of effort between hydrographic offices. A series of small scale charts has already been successfully completed. The medium and large scale series is still in its infancy and the programme will continue into the foreseeable future. There are also proposals to look at the standardisation of other navigational publications. The majority of this work is steered by a Committee chaired by the United Kingdom, although scales and limits for medium and large scale charts are coordinated by regional chairman elected from member states.

Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems

There is an International Hydrographic Organisation Committee on Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems, with several working groups looking at all aspects of the design of data for electronic charting. Close links are maintained with the International Maritime Organisation via the IMO/IHO Harmonisation Group on ECDIS. The IHO has also developed a transfer standard for digital hydrographic data, which was published in June 1991. The United Kingdom was heavily involved in its production.

Some of the other work programmes include:

• Promulgation of Radio Navigation Warnings
• General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO)
• FIG/IHO International Advisory Board on Standards for Hydrographic Surveyors
• Technical aspects of the Law of the Sea
• Technical assistance to developing hydrographic offices

United Kingdom Interests

Lead Department

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN
Contact: Dr Wyn Williams, Chief Executive and National Hydrographer.
Telephone: +44 (0) 1823 337900 x3444  Fax: 01823 284077  Email: wyn.williams@ukho.gov.uk

Other Interested Departments and Organisations

Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU.

Briefing and Reporting Mechanisms

Available through the Chief Executive and National Hydrographer.

Perspective

The UK priority is to maximise the safety of navigation. This is primarily achieved by promoting the adoption of common standards and by international cooperation. To date, the United Kingdom has been at the forefront of much of the International Hydrographic Organisation's work; the adoption of international standards follows closely those of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom, and the navigator at large, has been well served by the direction of the International Hydrographic Organisation.

One threat to the United Kingdom's priorities which is being met is the increasing trend for national hydrographic offices to seek a greater degree of cost recovery. In order to ensure the continuing exchange of data which underpins the Organisation, and the Member States’ participation in the cooperative ventures of the International Hydrographic Organisation. Member States have agreed that the use of other member’s data and products should normally require bilateral arrangements between individual Member States. These arrangements incorporate the provision for acknowledgement of copyright and reimbursement for royalties. To address this, the UK has developed arrangements with half of the sixty-four Member States and is seeking arrangements with the remainder.