Circular Letter
MSC/Circ.1179
DEFICIENCIES IN HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING AND NAUTICAL CHARTING WORLDWIDE AND
THEIR IMPACT ON SAFETY OF NAVIGATION AND PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
(24 May 2005)
1.
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eightieth session (11 to 20 May 2005), in
response 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 deficiencies world-wide in the provision of hydrographic
services in accordance with SOLAS regulation V/9.
2.
Member Governments, Parties to SOLAS74 as amended, are reminded of their
obligations under the Provisions of regulation V/9 and are urged to take
actions to remedy the 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 of other appropriate parties.
Annex.
NOTE FROM THE IHO TO ALL COASTAL STATES. THE STATUS OF HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING
AND NAUTICAL CHARTING WORLDWIDE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE 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.
Considering
that:
- Safety of
navigation and protection of the marine environment are at risk because of
significant deficiencies in surveys on major shipping routes and the lack of
modern surveys and new charts, including ENCs, in the coastal waters of many
maritime States;
- Many
Contracting Governments to SOLAS need to establish Hydrographic Services in
order to fulfil their obligations for surveying, charting and updating as
specified in SOLAS chapter V;
- IHO Special
Publication 55 "Status of hydrographic surveying and nautical charting
worldwide" (www.iho.shom.fr) provides important information and data which
can be used by governments to initiate the procedures necessary to undertake
these obligations;
- United Nations
Assembly Resolution A/58/240 invites the IMO and the IHO to continue their
co-ordinated efforts to improve surveying and chart coverage worldwide;
- The IHO, which
is recognized by UNCLOS as the competent international organization for
hydrographic matters, can provide Capacity Building support to assist any State
to establish or enhance its hydrographic services;
the
IHO urges States to undertake the necessary actions to: establish/enhance their
hydrographic services, execute hydrographic surveys, publish and maintain
nautical paper charts, electronic charts and publications, and issue Maritime
Safety Information (MSI) under the provisions of the 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 (info@ihb.mc) 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
Principautй de
Monaco
Tel.+377 93 10
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Fax +377 93 10
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