International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

World Hydrography Day

21 June 2008

"Capacity Building, a vital tool to assist the IHO
in achieving its mission and objectives."

Capacity building is a key priority for the IHO. This year’s celebrations will highlight the IHO’s commitment to supporting technology and skills transfer between established and newly-developing Hydrographic Offices in the interests of enhancing global navigational safety, maritime trade and protection of the environment. To support this priority the IHO has defined a three-phase development strategy to build national hydrographic capacity.

Phase One focuses on encouraging all States which have navigable waters, to recognize their national responsibilities for the provision of hydrographic services and initiate the collection and dissemination of marine safety information.

Phase Two  involves the provision of advice and training assistance to support the creation of a basic hydrographic surveying capacity in a particular country.

Phase Three supports further development of a national hydrographic service including such capabilities as production of paper charts, electronic navigational charts and nautical publications.

Underpinning the IHO capacity-building strategy is a four-step process of awareness, assessment, analysis and action.

By proceeding in this coordinated manner, the IHO capacity building strategy will help Hydrographic Offices throughout the world to develop appropriate levels of hydrographic capability.

To download this poster click here.  File size 900kB

The United Nations, in its General Assembly Resolution A/60/30 of 29 November 2005, “Welcomes the adoption by the International Hydrographic Organization of the “World Hydrography Day”, to be celebrated annually on June 21st, with the aim of giving suitable publicity to its work at all levels and of increasing the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis, and urges all States to work with that organization to promote safe navigation, especially in the areas of international navigation, ports and and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas
 

  To see events and programmes that were presented by the IHO and other Hydrographic Offices world wide follow the link to the IHO website in Monaco. Not all links are guaranteed.