World Hydrography Day And Its Significance
The marine environment is constantly changing, whether due to climate change, extreme events, or simply the movement of tides and currents. Hydrography helps States monitor such changes and adapt their activities.
Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers.
It also does prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in support of all other marine activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection.
Navigation
In addition to supporting safe and efficient navigation of ships, hydrography underpins almost every other activity associated with the sea, including:
■Resource exploitation - fishing, minerals
■E■viro■me■ta● protection and management
■Maritime boundary delimitation
■Natio■a● marine spatial data infrastructures
■ Recreational boating
■ Maritime defence and security
■Tsu■ami flood and inundation modelling
■ Coastal zone management
■ Tourism
■ Marine science
International Obligations
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 provide and maintain Hydrographic Services and products.
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
■cha■gi■g maritime trade patterns
■the growing importance of seabed resources ■the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention affecting areas of national jurisdiction
Many charts which were adequate a decade ago, may have to be recompiled using new survey data, collected to a higher degree of accuracy and providing improved coverage.
This deficiency may not be limited to sparsely surveyed waters of developing nations, but may also apply to the coastal waters of major industrial states.
Technology advancement
The advent of accurate satellite navigation, has made poorly positioned historical data an even greater problem for navigators.
Fortunately, new survey technologies have improved the precision to which modern hydrographic surveys can be conducted.
The marine environment is constantly changing, whether due to climate change, extreme events, or simply the movement of tides and currents.
Hydrography helps States monitor such changes and adapt their activities.
For most ships for example, 30cm extra depth shown on a chart allows at least 2000 tons more cargo to be carried. The economic benefits of having an up-to-date knowledge of the marine environment can be considerable.
And yet, we know the surface of the Moon and Mars better that we know the seabed.
States are represented within the IHO by the national authority responsible for the provision of hydrographic and nautical charting services in each Member State.
A Secretary General and two Directors are elected by Member States and administer the work of the Organization.
Hydrographic