The New Role of JHOD
charts

The New Role of JHOD

It has been long years since Japan started the hydrographic organisation now called Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department, JHOD, in 1872. The primary functions of the organisation have not b...

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Regulations in Chapter V of SOLAS
IHO

Regulations in Chapter V of SOLAS

There are three new elements of hydrographic importance contained in Chapter V of SOLAS which will increase safety at sea; the provision of hydrographic services, the definition of nautical charts and...

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Towards ECDIS Mandatory Carriage
ECDIS

Towards ECDIS Mandatory Carriage

The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are co-operating very closely to take appropriate action for the mandatory carriage of ECDIS to incr...

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Towards ECDIS Mandatory Carriage
ECDIS

Towards ECDIS Mandatory Carriage

The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are co-operating very closely to take appropriate action for the mandatory carriage of ECDIS to incr...

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Web-based GIS for Nautical Charts
GIS

Web-based GIS for Nautical Charts

The existence of Web-based Geographic Information System (Web-based GIS) will enable the Hydrographic Information System to integrate all the activities of a Hydrographic Office on a single integrated...

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Calling All ECDIS Stakeholders
ECDIS

Calling All ECDIS Stakeholders

The IMO is considering a phased programme to make the carriage of ECDIS compulsory. This could mean that certain vessels be required to carry ECDIS from as early as 2008. In my view, this is the key t...

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The Use and Misuse of Nautical Charts
Chart

The Use and Misuse of Nautical Charts

My colleague Peter Johnson presented a paper at this year’s Canadian Hydrographic Conference explaining how Australia is implementing Zones of Confidence in its charts. The Zones of Confidence (ZOC)...

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Sir, Can I Use My ECDIS Now?
ECDIS

Sir, Can I Use My ECDIS Now?

July 2002 signalled a significant milestone in the long, tortuous life of ECDIS. It was the month that ECDIS was formally recognised (and specifically mentioned) in SOLAS Chapter V. It should have bee...

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Expanding the Customer (Data)base
GIS

Expanding the Customer (Data)base

A number of contributors to this column have discussed the benefits that information technologies bring to the conduct of hydrographic surveys and the production of nautical charts. Likewise, these te...

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Under the Slogan “Safety First”
Survey

Under the Slogan “Safety First”

As most readers will know, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) stipulates that information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines ...

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Adopting Appropriate Specification
Survey

Adopting Appropriate Specification

Hydrographic surveys may be specified to meet many different requirements. For example, a survey may be for nautical charting to re-survey a shipping channel where under-keel clearance is critical, or...

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How Important is Hydrography?
ITS

How Important is Hydrography?

The link between the development of a State and its trade was identified centuries ago. In spite of the efforts of countless projects, the awareness of the importance of charts and maritime safety inf...

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South Pacific Hydrography
charts

South Pacific Hydrography

In April this year I represented the South West Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SWPHC) at the eleventh meeting of the Pacific Islands Maritime Association and the first Meeting of Pacific Minsters of...

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Hydrographic Information Databases
GIS

Hydrographic Information Databases

The availability of various sensors and sophisticated technology providing digital data means that today’s hydrographers must attune to the idea that the final products should be available in a hydr...

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