4th Extraordinary IHC Approaching

There are also a number of other proposals that have been submitted by individual Member States on various related subjects. In addition, there will be a Member States' seminar on the topical subject of the status of global coverage of electronic navigational charts as well as side meetings involving some of the IHO's subsidiary bodies.

The Conference will firstly consider the report of the Working Group on Hydrography and Cartography in Inland Waters. Their report will confirm that there are many common elements of hydrographic and nautical cartographic practice that can apply both to maritime waters and to inland waters where navigation takes place.

The report will recommend a formal acknowledgement from IHO in the form of a Resolution, that will acknowledge that the IHO programme and activities should, wherever possible, consider the possible application of its standards and guidelines for concurrent use in inland waters. The greatest possible liaison and coordination with relevant authorities dealing with hydrography in inland waters will also be encouraged.

The next report and recommendations will deal with Marine Spatial Data Infrastructures (MSDI) and will advise the IHC on how the IHO can best serve its Member States in their role as one of the fundamental data providers in the maritime component of national and regional spatial data infrastructures that are now being established around the world. One outcome will be the publication of an IHO document identifying the possible roles of

Hydrographic Offices in MSDI and providing practical guidance on what steps will be required to enable Hos to fulfil those roles.

The last report to be considered by the Conference will be submitted by the IHO Strategic Plan Working Group and concerns the on-going revision of the organisation of the IHO. In 2005 the IHO endorsed some significant amendments to its governing Convention - including improvements to overall governance through the establishment of a Council, and simplification of the conditions under which new Member States may join the Organization. The amendments to the IHO Convention are now being progressively ratified by the Member

States' governments - 22 approvals have been declared so far. The strategic plan working group will propose new procedures for the development of the IHO Strategic Plan, which will more directly involve the Member States through the IHO committee process. Another key element of the working group's proposals will be to propose a formal performance monitoring and reporting process to assess the risks associated with the IHO Work Programme, and to measure the success of the outcomes.

As is usual at IHCs, hydrographic industry exhibitors have been invited to take advantage of the gathering of almost all of the world's national hydrographers by mounting a wide ranging exhibition of their technologies and capabilities.

The finale of the week-long series of events will be a celebration of World Hydrography Day. The theme for 2009 is "Hydrography - Supporting Protection of the Marine Environment". The WHD celebrations will highlight the many ways in which hydrography helps to minimise damage to the marine environment, from the maritime boundary delimitation and the allocation of appropriate exploitation and development licences.

An IHC is the supreme governing meeting of the IHO and is the equivalent of an Assembly meeting in other intergovernmental organisations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or the ntergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.

The IHO holds its ordinary IHC every five years - the next one is due in 2012. Extraordinary IHCs, like the one to be held this year, can be held between ordinary Conferences to consider specific topics and proposals.