In addition to advisory visits , and operating under the auspices of the IHO, technical study teams may be drawn from volunteering States or other international organisations. Study team leaders are normally of a suitable military or government service grade and seniority to facilitate access to appropriate decision-making levels in the States to be visited. The composition of the remainder of the team is dictated by which specific technical areas are to be addressed during the visit, but at least one professional seafarer or hydrographic surveyor is included.

The deployment of a study team always requires careful prior liaison and planning to ensure the best results. An important prerequisite to a successful visit is an acknowledgment at the senior levels of government in the State being visited of the importance of hydrography and related sciences. Experience has shown that study visits are most effective when all the relevant authorities of the States being visited provide their full support for the visit. This is usually established as a result of the intial advisory visit. In addition, study team members often seek the advice and influence of their diplomatic representatives in the region or State prior to a visit.

It is not sufficient to rely purely on meetings with local hydrographic or Port Authority contacts, particularly where it is evident that these authorities cannot secure access to or support from government decision-makers. In the case of smaller States, access to officials including at prime ministerial level is important to ensure the necessary inter-departmental liaison and support.

Visits comprise a firm schedule of meetings with key contacts in the States to be visited and begin with a round-table meeting of all national authorities responsible for safety of navigation. The identification of an effective local facilitator greatly enhances the overall success of a study team visit. The IHO Publication M-2 National Maritime Policies and Hydrographic Services usually provides a framework for opening discussions, supplemented by IHO Publication S-55 Status of Hydrographic Surveying and Nautical Charting Worldwide .

Funding for technical visits comes from various sources. In some States, allocations from foreign ministry or overseas development budgets may be available. In addition to funding from the IHO capacity building fund, the International Hydrographic Bureau assists in identifying funding support from other sources such as the World Bank, the European Community and regional organisations.

During visits, the teams normally present a standard three-phase approach for hydrographic capacity building. Firstly, States should establish an organisation for the collection and circulation of nautical information. Secondly, States should establish mechanisms for an appropriate surveying capability. Thirdly, States should demonstrate they have the ability to produce charts and publications covering the area of their responsibility. Teams stress that national arrangements are essential for the first phase, while regional burden-sharing agreements or historical bilateral arrangements with a primary charting authority are often adequate for the second and third phases.

Visit Teams also identify the current capacity and capability of the State and the potential for development in the future. They then identify options that are viable, affordable and sustainable in the circumstances. This is particularly important in the case of e.g. survey equipment, avoiding recommendations which are unnecessarily sophisticated or depend on expensive maintenance and availability of spare parts. Stress is placed upon regional cooperation, particularly through the established Regional Hydrographic Commissions, as well as the establishment of bi-lateral or multi-lateral arrangements with other States who can offer ongoing support.

Visit reports are compiled which are subsequently forwarded to the relevant authorities in the State being visited. Follow-up visits and assessment are then undertaken as neccessary as each State embarks upon its capacity building programme. Further details of the IHO capacity building programme can be found on the IHO website.