1179 - Deficiencies In Hydrographic Surveying And Nautical Charting Worldwide And Their Impact On Safety Of Navigation And Protection Of The Marine Environment

 

Ref. T2- NAVSEC/1.5                                                                                               MSC/Circ.1179

24 May 2005

 

 

1          TheMaritimeSafetyCommittee,atitseightiethsession(11to20May2005),inresponse to  a  proposal  from  the  International  Hydrographic  Organization  (IHO)  for  the  issuance  of  an MSC circular, approved the note set out in the annex.  The note indicates deficienciesworld-wide

in the provision of hydrographic servicesin accordance with SOLAS regulation V/9.

 

2          Member  Governments,  Parties  to  SOLAS'  74  as  amended,  are  reminded  of  their obligationsundertheProvisionsofregulationV/9andareurgedtotakeactionstoremedythe situation.

 

3          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 ofother appropriate parties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Annex Note From The Iho To All Coastal States

THE STATUS OF HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING AND NAUTICAL CHARTING WORLDWIDE AND ITS IMPACT ONTHE SAFETY OF NAVIGATION.

A Responsibilities Of Coastal States

Nautical charts were, are and will remain the most important aid to safe navigation. SOLAS regulation V⁄2, paragraph 2, defines nautical charts and nautical publications. It should be noted that the accuracy of a chart depends on the accuracy of the hydrographic surveys from which the chart is derived. The better the hydrographic surveys, the more accurate the chart and the safer navigation will be. SOLAS regulation V⁄9 sets out the responsibility of the Contracting Governments to execute the necessary hydrographic surveys, produce the appropriate nautical charts, in accordance with the IHO Standards, and to update them regularly.

The United Nations General Assembly in 1998, the International Year of the Oceans, adopted Resolution A⁄RES⁄54⁄33 and in 2003 Resolution A⁄RES⁄58⁄240 emphasizing the importance of State action to execute hydrographic surveys and produce nautical charts for safety of navigation. Recent events in the Indian Ocean have also underlined the significance of good information on bathymetry and coastal configuration when planning for research, simulation warning and protection against seismic sea waves and other impact. IMO resolution A.958(23) and MSC⁄Circ.1118 are also very relevant to this issue. In order to fulfil these obligations, which are binding under international law, contracting Governments to SOLAS need to establish appropriate arrangements for the execution of hydrographic surveys, the production of nautical charts and their routine update.

B Status Of Hydrographic Surveying And Nautical Charting World-Wide

The IHO maintains a digital database, which is continuously updated, of the status of surveying, charting and promulgation of navigational warnings and chart updates. It is called S-55, and it can be found on the IHO website (www.iho.shom.fr). It covers 80% of the coastal waters of the world, and efforts continue to obtain the missing data from the countries concerned. The database highlights significant deficiencies, world-wide, in the provision of hydrographic services. In 45% of the coastal waters of the world less than a quarter of the area within the 200 m contour has been surveyed to modern standards. This is the case in half of those states in Central America and the Caribbean, West and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, and 85% of those in the South West Pacific.

No progress has been made in a number of areas of particularly high concern, which were highlighted in the first edition of S-55 in 1991. These areas include the coastal waters of the Niger delta and areas of the South China and Java Seas. The lack of modern surveys is hampering the production of modern metric paper charts on WGS 84 datum, let alone the ENCs required for ECDIS-fitted ships. In addition, even in some areas where modern surveys are available, the production of ENCs has been slow. Finally, and most significantly, many paper and electronic navigational charts cannot be updated because some maritime administrations have not yet put in place appropriate provision for MSI/GMDSS. The regions of greatest deficiency are the Caribbean, Africa, and oceanic areas, where GMDSS has been fully implemented for less than 15% of coastal states and sea areas. A particular concern is the lack of information on offshore installations in such areas as the Gulf of Guinea.

C Action Required

Consideringthat:

 

-           Safetyofnavigationandprotectionofthemarineenvironmentareatriskbecause of  significant  deficiencies  in  surveys  on  major  shipping  routes  and  the  lack  of modernsurveysandnewcharts,includingENCs,inthecoastalwatersofmany maritime States;

 

-           Many   Contracting   Governments   to   SOLAS   need   to   establish   Hydrographic Servicesinordertofulfiltheirobligationsforsurveying,chartingandupdatingas specified in SOLAS chapter V;

 

-           IHO  Special  Publication  55  “Status  of  hydrographic  surveying  and  nautical chartingworldwide”(www.iho.shom.fr)providesimportantinformationanddata which  can  be  used  by  governments  to  initiate  the  procedures  necessary  to undertake theseobligations;

 

-           UnitedNationsAssemblyResolutionA/58/240invitestheIMOandtheIHOto continue  their  co-ordinated  efforts  to  improve  surveying  and  chart  coverage worldwide;

 

-           The  IHO,  which  is  recognized  by  UNCLOS  as  the  competent  international organizationforhydrographicmatters,canprovideCapacityBuildingsupportto assist any State to establish orenhance its hydrographic services;

 

theIHOurgesStatestoundertakethenecessaryactionsto:establish/enhancetheirhydrographic services,  execute  hydrographic  surveys,  publish  and  maintain  nautical  paper  charts,  electronic chartsandpublications,andissueMaritimeSafetyInformation(MSI)undertheprovisionsofthe GMDSS.

 

United  Nations  Assembly  Resolution  A/58/240  also  encourages  states  to  join  the  IHO  and  to benefit  from  the  co-ordination  which  it  provides.   The  International  Hydrographic  Bureau ([e-mail])  can  provide  the  necessary  information  on  procedures  for  membership  of  the organization and/or Regional Hydrographic Commissions.

 

                                            International Hydrographic Organization

4, Quai Antoine 1er, BP 445

MC98011 MONACO Cedex Principauté de Monaco Tel.[phone]

Fax [phone]

E-mail address: [e-mail]

 

• Informatietype: Internationaal
• Documentsoort: Circulaire niet in wetten.nl
• Toegangsrechten: Extern
• Identificatie: PUC_1901_14
• Versie: 1
• Datum beschikbaarheid: 07-11-2007
• Geldigheid van: 24-05-2005
• Wijzigingsdatum: 24-11-2016
• Titel: 1179 - Deficiencies In Hydrographic Surveying And Nautical Charting Worldwide And Their Impact On Safety Of Navigation And Protection Of The Marine Environment
• Organisatie: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• Taal: Nederlands
• Thema: 1100 until 1199