The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) (French: Organisation Hydrographique Internationale) is an intergovernmental organization representing hydrography. As of May 2024[update], the IHO comprised 100 member states.
Organisation hydrographique internationale | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | IHO |
|---|---|
| Founded | 21 June 1921 |
| Location |
|
| Membership | 100 member states, but 2 suspended (see list) |
Official languages | English, French |
Secretary-General | Dr. Mathias Jonas |
| Website | iho |
A principal aim of the IHO is to ensure that the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are properly surveyed and charted. It does this through the setting of international standards for hydrographic surveys, the co-ordination of the endeavors of the world's national hydrographic offices, and through its capacity building program.
The IHO enjoys observer status at the United Nations, where it is the recognized competent authority on hydrographic surveying and nautical charting. When referring to hydrography and nautical charting in conventions and similar instruments, it is the IHO standards and specifications that are normally used.
History
During the 19th century, many maritime nations established hydrographic offices to provide means for improving the navigation of naval and merchant vessels by providing nautical publications, nautical charts, and other navigational services. There were substantial differences in hydrographic procedures charts, and publications. In 1889, an International Maritime Conference was held at Washington, D.C., and it was proposed to establish a "permanent international commission." Similar proposals were made at the sessions of the International Congress of Navigation held at Saint Petersburg in 1908 and the International Maritime Conference held at Saint Petersburg in 1912.
In 1919, the national Hydrographers of Great Britain and France cooperated in taking the necessary steps to convene an international conference of Hydrographers. London was selected as the most suitable place for this conference, and on 24 July 1919, the First International Conference opened, attended by the Hydrographers of 24 nations. The object of the conference was "To consider the advisability of all maritime nations adopting similar methods in preparation, construction, and production of their charts and all hydrographic publications; of rendering the results in the most convenient form to enable them to be readily used; of instituting a prompt system of mutual exchange of hydrographic information between all countries; and of providing an opportunity to consultations and discussions to be carried out on hydrographic subjects generally by the hydrographic experts of the world." This is still the major purpose of the IHO.
As a result of the 1919 Conference, a permanent organization was formed and statutes for its operations were prepared. The IHB, now the IHO, began its activities in 1921 with 18 nations as members. The Principality of Monaco was selected as the seat of the Organization as a result of the offer of Albert I of Monaco to provide suitable accommodation for the Bureau in the Principality.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was established in June 1921 as the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB), with Vice Admiral Sir John Parry, KCB of the United Kingdom serving as its first President. In 1970, under the leadership of Guy Chatel of France, the organization adopted its current name as part of a new International Convention on the IHO, which was agreed upon by its member nations. The term "International Hydrographic Bureau" continued to describe the IHO's secretariat until 8 November 2016, when a major revision to the Convention took effect. Following this change, the secretariat was renamed the "IHO Secretariat," which consists of an elected Secretary-General, two supporting Directors, and a small permanent staff (18 in 2020) at the Organization’s headquarters in Monaco.
Structure
Until 2016 the IHO was administered by a secretariat headed by a Directing Committee comprising a President and two Directors. Since 8 November 2016, upon the entry in to force of revisions to the Convention on the IHO, the secretariat is headed by a Secretary-General, supported by two Directors, with Australia's Robert Ward serving as the first Secretary-General. As before, all three senior members of the secretariat continue to be elected to their positions by the Member States at the regular Assembly of the IHO (formerly, IHO Conferences). The secretariat staff comprise a number of technical specialists, administrators, and support personnel. The bulk of the IHO's technical and specialist expertise comes from Member States' personnel, often assisted by invited industry experts, who all provide technical contributions through participation in various IHO committees and working groups. A Council, comprising a sub-set of all the IHO Member States, meets annually and oversees the work of the IHO. A full description, together with details of the workings of all the organs of the IHO is available on the IHO website: www.iho.int
Functions
Training
The IHO ensures the safety of maritime navigation by developing hydrographic survey capability and nautical charting standards. To develop and standardize its member states' hydrographic survey capabilities, the IHO worked with the International Federation of Surveyors (Fédération Internationale des Géomètres) and the International Cartographic Association (ICA) to create the IHO's Standards of Competence. These standards are used to educate and train member states' respective hydrographic offices and nautical chart makers. Additionally, the IHO also creates syllabi higher education institutions who teach hydrography and nautical navigation. The IHO also has an Advisory Board which is tasked with supervising and approving member states' education and training programs.
Standardization
Since 1968, the IHO has regularly published updated editions of the Standards of Hydrographic Surveys, with the most recent being published in 2008. Each of these publications was designed to incorporate technological advancements and international shipping demands. This is especially true with regards to the rise of electronic navigation equipment in the 1980s.
The IHO also works to standardize the specifications, style, and symbols used in producing nautical charts. In 1971, the IHO was able to get its member states to use one single chart series, also known as INT charts. According to this IHO agreement, if one member state wants to publish a chart for an area covered by another member's existing chart, the duplicate must be created using the same data as the original chart. IHO Publication M-4, which was published in 1984, set specific international standards for nautical charts.
The advent of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) made it clear to the IHO it also needed to standardize how electronic navigational data is transferred and displayed on ships. Electronic chart data was standardized and categorized in an international database referred to as Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs). The way this data is transferred from publishers to users was also standardized, as was the display and capabilities of the ECDIS.
International Cooperation
The IHO has encouraged the formation of Regional Hydrographic Commissions (RHCs). Each RHC coordinates the national surveying and charting activities of countries within each region and acts as a forum to address other matters of common hydrographic interest. The 15 RHCs plus the IHO Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica effectively cover the world. The IHO, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, directs the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans program.
Achievements
Establishment of the Chart Specifications Committee and International Charts:
- The exploration of the seabed and movements of the sea
- Standardization of maritime measurements, hydrographic terminology, marine cartographic products, and geographical information systems for navigation
- High efficiency of the rapid dissemination of information on safety at sea
- Training of hydrographers and nautical cartographers
Publications
Most IHO publications, including the standards, guidelines and associated documents such as the International Hydrographic Review, International Hydrographic Bulletin, the Hydrographic Dictionary and the Year Book are available to the general public free of charge from the IHO website. The IHO publishes the international standards related to charting and hydrography, including S-57, IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data, the encoding standard that is used primarily for electronic navigational charts.
In 2010, the IHO introduced a new, contemporary hydrographic geospatial standard for modelling marine data and information, known as S-100. S-100 and any dependent product specifications are underpinned by an on-line registry accessible via the IHO website. S-100 is aligned with the ISO 19100 series of geographic standards, thereby making it fully compatible with contemporary geospatial data standards.
Because S-100 is based on ISO 19100, it can be used by other data providers for their maritime-related (non-hydrographic) data and information. Various data and information providers from both the government and private sector are now using S-100 as part of the implementation of the e-Navigation concept that has been endorsed by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Another in the series of publications of interest is S-23, Limits of Oceans and Seas. The 3rd edition dates back to 1953 while the potential 4th edition, started in 1986, has remained a draft since 2002. It was distributed to IHO members, but its official publication has been suspended pending agreement between South Korea and Japan regarding the international standard name of the sea called "Japan Sea" in the 1953 edition.
See also
- World Hydrography Day
Footnotes
- "First Assembly of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)". hydro-international.com. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- Wingrove, Martyn (11 March 2019). "IMO takes the e-navigation reins". Maritime Digitalisation & Communications. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- (The International Hydrographic Organization), wpe (26 July 2018). "International Hydrographic Organization Brochure" (PDF). International Hydrographic Organization. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- International Congress of Navigation (11th : 1908 : St. Petersburg); Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (1908). Report of proceedings. University of California Libraries. Brussels.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - "International Hydrographic Organization". www.hydro-international.com. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- Maschke, John (August 1999). "The International Hydrographic Organization - an effective international regime?". Maritime Studies (107): 9–19. doi:10.1080/07266472.1999.10878569.
- Bermejo Baró, Federico (2019). "The IHO and its Secretariat - an updated history -" (PDF). IHO Publication M-10: 49–53.
- Maschke, John (July 1999). "The International Hydrographic Organization – an effective international regime?". Maritime Studies (107): 9–19. doi:10.1080/07266472.1999.10878569.
- IHO website: www.iho.int
- "The Role of the International Hydrographic Organization - Terminautical". 16 January 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- "IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data (S-57) International Hydrographic Organization", Spatial Database Transfer Standards 2: Characteristics for Assessing Standards and Full Descriptions of the National and International Standards in the World, Elsevier, pp. 355–368, 1997, ISBN 978-0-08-042433-0, retrieved 30 November 2024
- "IHO Publications". www.hydro-international.com. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- IHO S-100: Universal Hydrographic Data Model. International Hydrographic Organization. 2017.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition" (PDF). International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- "Limits of Oceans and Seas, Draft 4th Edition". International Hydrographic Organization. 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- Fourcy, Damien; Lorvelec, Olivier (2013). "A New Digital Map of Limits of Oceans and Seas Consistent with High-Resolution Global Shorelines". Journal of Coastal Research. 29 (2): 471–477. doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-12-00079.1. JSTOR 23353643. S2CID 130458375.
External links
- Official website
The International Hydrographic Organization IHO French Organisation Hydrographique Internationale is an intergovernmental organization representing hydrography As of May 2024 update the IHO comprised 100 member states International Hydrographic OrganizationOrganisation hydrographique internationaleAbbreviationIHOFounded21 June 1921 103 years ago 1921 06 21 LocationPrincipality of MonacoMembership100 member states but 2 suspended see list Official languagesEnglish FrenchSecretary GeneralDr Mathias JonasWebsiteiho wbr int A principal aim of the IHO is to ensure that the world s seas oceans and navigable waters are properly surveyed and charted It does this through the setting of international standards for hydrographic surveys the co ordination of the endeavors of the world s national hydrographic offices and through its capacity building program The IHO enjoys observer status at the United Nations where it is the recognized competent authority on hydrographic surveying and nautical charting When referring to hydrography and nautical charting in conventions and similar instruments it is the IHO standards and specifications that are normally used HistoryDuring the 19th century many maritime nations established hydrographic offices to provide means for improving the navigation of naval and merchant vessels by providing nautical publications nautical charts and other navigational services There were substantial differences in hydrographic procedures charts and publications In 1889 an International Maritime Conference was held at Washington D C and it was proposed to establish a permanent international commission Similar proposals were made at the sessions of the International Congress of Navigation held at Saint Petersburg in 1908 and the International Maritime Conference held at Saint Petersburg in 1912 In 1919 the national Hydrographers of Great Britain and France cooperated in taking the necessary steps to convene an international conference of Hydrographers London was selected as the most suitable place for this conference and on 24 July 1919 the First International Conference opened attended by the Hydrographers of 24 nations The object of the conference was To consider the advisability of all maritime nations adopting similar methods in preparation construction and production of their charts and all hydrographic publications of rendering the results in the most convenient form to enable them to be readily used of instituting a prompt system of mutual exchange of hydrographic information between all countries and of providing an opportunity to consultations and discussions to be carried out on hydrographic subjects generally by the hydrographic experts of the world This is still the major purpose of the IHO As a result of the 1919 Conference a permanent organization was formed and statutes for its operations were prepared The IHB now the IHO began its activities in 1921 with 18 nations as members The Principality of Monaco was selected as the seat of the Organization as a result of the offer of Albert I of Monaco to provide suitable accommodation for the Bureau in the Principality The International Hydrographic Organization IHO was established in June 1921 as the International Hydrographic Bureau IHB with Vice Admiral Sir John Parry KCB of the United Kingdom serving as its first President In 1970 under the leadership of Guy Chatel of France the organization adopted its current name as part of a new International Convention on the IHO which was agreed upon by its member nations The term International Hydrographic Bureau continued to describe the IHO s secretariat until 8 November 2016 when a major revision to the Convention took effect Following this change the secretariat was renamed the IHO Secretariat which consists of an elected Secretary General two supporting Directors and a small permanent staff 18 in 2020 at the Organization s headquarters in Monaco StructureUntil 2016 the IHO was administered by a secretariat headed by a Directing Committee comprising a President and two Directors Since 8 November 2016 upon the entry in to force of revisions to the Convention on the IHO the secretariat is headed by a Secretary General supported by two Directors with Australia s Robert Ward serving as the first Secretary General As before all three senior members of the secretariat continue to be elected to their positions by the Member States at the regular Assembly of the IHO formerly IHO Conferences The secretariat staff comprise a number of technical specialists administrators and support personnel The bulk of the IHO s technical and specialist expertise comes from Member States personnel often assisted by invited industry experts who all provide technical contributions through participation in various IHO committees and working groups A Council comprising a sub set of all the IHO Member States meets annually and oversees the work of the IHO A full description together with details of the workings of all the organs of the IHO is available on the IHO website www iho intFunctionsTraining The IHO ensures the safety of maritime navigation by developing hydrographic survey capability and nautical charting standards To develop and standardize its member states hydrographic survey capabilities the IHO worked with the International Federation of Surveyors Federation Internationale des Geometres and the International Cartographic Association ICA to create the IHO s Standards of Competence These standards are used to educate and train member states respective hydrographic offices and nautical chart makers Additionally the IHO also creates syllabi higher education institutions who teach hydrography and nautical navigation The IHO also has an Advisory Board which is tasked with supervising and approving member states education and training programs Standardization Since 1968 the IHO has regularly published updated editions of the Standards of Hydrographic Surveys with the most recent being published in 2008 Each of these publications was designed to incorporate technological advancements and international shipping demands This is especially true with regards to the rise of electronic navigation equipment in the 1980s The IHO also works to standardize the specifications style and symbols used in producing nautical charts In 1971 the IHO was able to get its member states to use one single chart series also known as INT charts According to this IHO agreement if one member state wants to publish a chart for an area covered by another member s existing chart the duplicate must be created using the same data as the original chart IHO Publication M 4 which was published in 1984 set specific international standards for nautical charts The advent of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System ECDIS made it clear to the IHO it also needed to standardize how electronic navigational data is transferred and displayed on ships Electronic chart data was standardized and categorized in an international database referred to as Electronic Navigational Charts ENCs The way this data is transferred from publishers to users was also standardized as was the display and capabilities of the ECDIS International Cooperation The IHO has encouraged the formation of Regional Hydrographic Commissions RHCs Each RHC coordinates the national surveying and charting activities of countries within each region and acts as a forum to address other matters of common hydrographic interest The 15 RHCs plus the IHO Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica effectively cover the world The IHO in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission directs the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans program Achievements Establishment of the Chart Specifications Committee and International Charts The exploration of the seabed and movements of the sea Standardization of maritime measurements hydrographic terminology marine cartographic products and geographical information systems for navigation High efficiency of the rapid dissemination of information on safety at sea Training of hydrographers and nautical cartographersPublicationsMost IHO publications including the standards guidelines and associated documents such as the International Hydrographic Review International Hydrographic Bulletin the Hydrographic Dictionary and the Year Book are available to the general public free of charge from the IHO website The IHO publishes the international standards related to charting and hydrography including S 57 IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data the encoding standard that is used primarily for electronic navigational charts In 2010 the IHO introduced a new contemporary hydrographic geospatial standard for modelling marine data and information known as S 100 S 100 and any dependent product specifications are underpinned by an on line registry accessible via the IHO website S 100 is aligned with the ISO 19100 series of geographic standards thereby making it fully compatible with contemporary geospatial data standards Because S 100 is based on ISO 19100 it can be used by other data providers for their maritime related non hydrographic data and information Various data and information providers from both the government and private sector are now using S 100 as part of the implementation of the e Navigation concept that has been endorsed by the UN International Maritime Organization IMO Another in the series of publications of interest is S 23 Limits of Oceans and Seas The 3rd edition dates back to 1953 while the potential 4th edition started in 1986 has remained a draft since 2002 It was distributed to IHO members but its official publication has been suspended pending agreement between South Korea and Japan regarding the international standard name of the sea called Japan Sea in the 1953 edition See alsoWorld Hydrography DayFootnotes First Assembly of the International Hydrographic Organization IHO hydro international com Retrieved 17 April 2019 Wingrove Martyn 11 March 2019 IMO takes the e navigation reins Maritime Digitalisation amp Communications Archived from the original on 17 April 2019 Retrieved 17 April 2019 The International Hydrographic Organization wpe 26 July 2018 International Hydrographic Organization Brochure PDF International Hydrographic Organization Archived PDF from the original on 30 November 2018 Retrieved 14 May 2022 International Congress of Navigation 11th 1908 St Petersburg Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses 1908 Report of proceedings University of California Libraries Brussels a href wiki Template Cite book title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link International Hydrographic Organization www hydro international com Retrieved 30 November 2024 Maschke John August 1999 The International Hydrographic Organization an effective international regime Maritime Studies 107 9 19 doi 10 1080 07266472 1999 10878569 Bermejo Baro Federico 2019 The IHO and its Secretariat an updated history PDF IHO Publication M 10 49 53 Maschke John July 1999 The International Hydrographic Organization an effective international regime Maritime Studies 107 9 19 doi 10 1080 07266472 1999 10878569 IHO website www iho int The Role of the International Hydrographic Organization Terminautical 16 January 2024 Retrieved 30 November 2024 IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data S 57 International Hydrographic Organization Spatial Database Transfer Standards 2 Characteristics for Assessing Standards and Full Descriptions of the National and International Standards in the World Elsevier pp 355 368 1997 ISBN 978 0 08 042433 0 retrieved 30 November 2024 IHO Publications www hydro international com Retrieved 5 December 2024 IHO S 100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model International Hydrographic Organization 2017 a href wiki Template Cite book title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link Limits of Oceans and Seas 3rd edition PDF International Hydrographic Organization 1953 Retrieved 26 May 2020 Limits of Oceans and Seas Draft 4th Edition International Hydrographic Organization 2002 Retrieved 8 January 2021 Fourcy Damien Lorvelec Olivier 2013 A New Digital Map of Limits of Oceans and Seas Consistent with High Resolution Global Shorelines Journal of Coastal Research 29 2 471 477 doi 10 2112 JCOASTRES D 12 00079 1 JSTOR 23353643 S2CID 130458375 External linksOfficial website
