88thth Regional Seapower Symposium Regional Seapower Symposium

Venice - 19-22 October 2010Venice - 19-22 October 2010

The Importance of hydrography to maritime The Importance of hydrography to maritime activities.activities.

Vice Admiral Alexandros MaratosVice Admiral Alexandros Maratos

President International Hydrographic BureauPresident International Hydrographic Bureau

International Hydrographic OrganizationInternational Hydrographic Organization

The UN General Assembly has The UN General Assembly has recognised with a special resolution the recognised with a special resolution the importance of hydrography to be importance of hydrography to be celebrated as celebrated as “World Hydrography “World Hydrography Day”Day” every year on the 21 June in every year on the 21 June in order order to raise world-wide awareness of to raise world-wide awareness of its importance to all sectors of our lifeits importance to all sectors of our life..

What Is HydrographyWhat Is Hydrography??

?

Data, information, products, Data, information, products, survey vessels, equipment, survey vessels, equipment, techniques, standards and techniques, standards and

trained personnel are all needed trained personnel are all needed and combined to define and combined to define

hydrographyhydrography..

Why hydrography?Why hydrography?

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no ship sails- no ship sails

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -- There is noThere is no Safety of navigationSafety of navigation

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no port is built - no port is built

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no offshore infrastructure is developed- no offshore infrastructure is developed

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no environmental plan is implemented- no environmental plan is implemented

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- - There is no protection of the marine environmentThere is no protection of the marine environment

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no rescue is attempted - no rescue is attempted

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no maritime boundary is delimited- no maritime boundary is delimited

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- no shore is defended, no island protected- no shore is defended, no island protected

… … without hydrography -without hydrography -

- maritime defence- maritime defence is incompleteis incomplete

Who is responsible for Who is responsible for hydrography and hydrography and

hydrographic services?hydrographic services?

Chapter V of regulation 9 of SOLAS defines Chapter V of regulation 9 of SOLAS defines the obligations of Contracting Governments the obligations of Contracting Governments to provide hydrographic services for the to provide hydrographic services for the safety of navigation and other maritime safety of navigation and other maritime activities for the waters under their national activities for the waters under their national jurisdiction.jurisdiction.

SOLAS V/9SOLAS V/9 ((provision of hydrographic services and provision of hydrographic services and

navigational warningsnavigational warnings))

… … are International Obligations under are International Obligations under Treaty LawTreaty Law … … applies to ALL Contracting Governmentsapplies to ALL Contracting Governments

The IHO is the intergovernmental consultative The IHO is the intergovernmental consultative and technical organization established in 1921and technical organization established in 1921to coordinate the activities of its Member States to coordinate the activities of its Member States Hydrographic Offices in order to better support Hydrographic Offices in order to better support

national, regional and global hydrographic national, regional and global hydrographic requirements.requirements.

ConclusionsConclusions

Safety of navigationSafety of navigation Protection of marine environmentProtection of marine environmentNational infrastructure developmentNational infrastructure development Coastal zone managementCoastal zone managementMarine explorationMarine explorationResource exploitation – minerals, fishingResource exploitation – minerals, fishing Maritime boundary delimitation (UNCLOS, others)Maritime boundary delimitation (UNCLOS, others)Maritime defence and securityMaritime defence and security Disaster managementDisaster management

To the question …”What is needed to To the question …”What is needed to support maritime needs and support maritime needs and

requirements?”requirements?”

HYDROGRAPHY - What else!HYDROGRAPHY - What else!

International Hydrographic OrganizationInternational Hydrographic Organization

International Hydrographic BureauInternational Hydrographic Bureau4, Quai Antoine 14, Quai Antoine 1erer

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Principauté de MonacoPrincipauté de Monaco

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