Report On World Hydrographic Day By Rear Admiral Vasan (Retired)
Dated 24/6/2007
Printer Friendly
Subscribe
World Hydrographic Day (WHD) is being celebrated on 21st June under the International Hydrographic Organisation(IHO) to commemorate the establishment of the IHO by 19 Member States in 1921 at the Principality of Monaco and to propagate the benefits of Hydrography to the world community.
On the 86th anniversary of the IHO, the WHD has an important theme in "Electronic Navigational Charts(ENC)- An Essential Element of Safety at Sea and Efficient Maritime Operations".
IHO has played significant roles in the development and usage of Nautical Charts.The conventional paper charts, containing a wealth of Marine Information collected diligently by the Hydrographers and compiled meticulously by the Marine Cartographers, have been in use for safety of Navigation and Maritime Development activities for over 4 centuries in the Indian Waters. With the advent of digital era and the Global Maritime Distress & Safety Service(GMDSS) in 1992, the IHO had initiated the Work Programme for the ENCs, with added safety features and in coordination with other international organizations.
The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) had in 2004 acknowledged the Importance of the ENCs for Safety of Life and Property at sea and Maritime Operations.The UNGA resolution in 2005 welcomed the adoption of 21st June each year to be celebrated as the WHD and recognized that Hydrographic Surveying and Nautical Charting are critical to the Safety of Navigation and Life at Sea, Marine Environmental Protection and the Economics of the global shipping industry. The ENCs not only provide significantly increased benefits of safe Navigation, and Management of Ships movements, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable Fisheries activities and Sectoral uses of the Marine Environment, the Delineation of the Maritime Boundaries and Marine Environmental Protection(MEP).
The IHO has utilized digital technology for the Production of the ENCs by the Member States by evolving common Specifications, Standards and Formats. Most Member States have digitized their paper charts to produce ENCs for their areas,with principle advantages of Seamless Connectivity Data, advantage of scale and ability to combine data for different applications.The ENCs have intelligent tools to warn Mariners of impending navigational dangers.
The ENCs are displayed through the IMO/IHO approved Electronic Chart Display Information System(ECDIS) with builtin hardware/software safety features. ECDIS with ENC display legally meets the Chart Carriage requirements under Regulation 19 of Chapter V of Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) of the IMO. ECDIS acts as the “black box” of user movements with facility of playback to fix accountability in cases of accidents.Voyage Planning, Tracking, MEP/Containment and other functionalities are possible with ECDIS/ENCs , duly updated by digital Notices to Mariners using available advanced communication means. Quality control organisations have brought out that marine accidents , especially in shallow waters, can be reduced by 40% through use of approved ENCs on an ECDIS platform.
The Development and Use of ECDIS with the authorized ENCs has been possible due to the inspiring efforts of the WEND and CHRIS committees of the IHO, with constant updates.With present worldwide sea coverage of the ENCs at 60%, the IHO conference in May 2007 committed to achieve 100% Coverage, Availability, Consistency and Quality of the ENCs by 2010, since the cost benefit ratio of a National Hydrographic Service is 1:10 or more towards Maritime Development.
In India, the responsibility towards Navigational Safety Service lies with the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India under the IMO/IHO conventions.The IT eminence of the private sector was used to execute the ENC programme from 1997 to 2003 with many professional challenges and rewards . The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) has produced 221 ENCs covering the entire Indian and adjoining sea areas.These are available in public domain through notified Chart Agents in India and abroad and are used by variety of users with increasing revenue. Economic spin offs accrued with the Indian software firm producing quality ENCs for other hydrographic offices worldover(including UK) at globally competitive rates.
Apart from the ENCs programme, the INHD had also embarked on active International Hydrographic Cooperation since 1997, especially for the Indian Ocean Littoral States. Enhanced slots for foreign trainees at renowned National Hydrographic School, Goa, Establishment of the North Indian Ocean Hydrographic Commission (NIOHC) in 2001, Execution of Hydrographic Surveys for Maritime States under MOUs and professional representation in IHO committees have brought rich dividends and laurels. It is a matter of pride that Former Chief Hydrographers to the Govt of India were elected to serve in the Directing Committee of the IHO for 15 years and as Vice Chairman of the UN Commission on Limits of the Continental Shelf for 5 years. INHD also got the First Laureate Award(GPIEM) from the World Underwater Federation , Rome in 2001 for MEP.
India is a major service provider in World Hydrography with eight State of the Art Surveying Ships(with 6 more under construction), Modern Hydrographic office, and Internationally acknowledged trained Manpower. With sweeping global changes, the heavily invested INHD must be freed of its restricted confines and perform with autonomy in all spheres, especially in the areas of improved operations/production, greater revenue returns, closer synergy with other national and international maritime agencies and International Cooperation.
On the occasion of the WHD , it would be appropriate for the Indian Govt to continue its strong support for Hydrographic Activities and reiterate her commitments under the UN/IHO/IMO conventions and facilitate a greater National Role for the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India in Maritime Development.
The author Rear Admiral K.R.Srinivasan, AVSM,IN(Retd) is a maritime specialist and was former Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India.
