International Hydrographic Organization - ECDIS Stakeholders’ Forum - Captain Robert WARD

1. International Hydrographic Organization - ECDIS Stakeholders’ Forum - Captain Robert WARD Director, IHB

2. Topics • IHO Structure • Decision Making Process

3. 80 IHO Member States (167 IMO Member States)

4. 80 IHO Member States 2 Approvals and 2 Applications Pending: Bulgaria and Mauritania, Cameroon and Sierra Leone

5. IHO - Objectives • The Objectives of the IHO are: • coordination of the activities of national hydrographic offices • greatest possible uniformity of nautical charts and documents • adoption of reliable and efficient methods for hydrographic surveys • development of related sciences and techniques

6. Principal Programmes Cooperation among MS and with other International Organizations Capacity Building Technical

7. IHO Structure

8. 13 Regional Hydrographic Commissions sub WG’s IHO – Structure - 2008 International Hydrographic Conference 5 yearly +EIHCs Capacity Building Committee CHRIS WEND Annually • Finance Committee • Tidal Committee • S44 WG • Hydrographic Dictionary WG • Committee on Antarctica • ….. WEND TG TSMADWG C&SMWG SNPWG at least annually orby correspondence

9. NSHC NHC BSHC USCHC USCHC RSAHC EAtHC MBSHC EAHC MACHC NIOHC SEPHC SWPHC SWPHC SAIHC (SWAtHC) HCA Regional Hydrographic Commissions

10. Hierarchy International Hydrographic Conference (IHO Work programme, Budget) • Committees • Working Groups • Sub Working Groups

11. Decision Making • IHO decisions are made by consulting ALL IHO M/S • Committees and WGs only make recommendations • Voting represents government position • Majorities vary according to subject: • 2/3 of M/S • simple majority • usually means at least 38 affirmative votes required

12. IHO Participation • M/S represented by official government delegates • NGIO’s speak for non-government interests and participate as observers • Technical WG’s may invite “technical experts” to participate as observers

13. 2009 – Transition to a two - Committee Structure • Hydrographic Specifications and Standards Committee (HSSC) • All technical programs, technical WGs, ….. • Inter Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) • All inter-regional and capacity building programs

14. Revised IHO – Structure – January 2009 5 yearly +EIHCs 13 Regional Hydrographic Commissions International Hydrographic Conference Finance Annually Hydrographic Services and Standards Committee (HSSC) Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) at least annually or by correspondence WG’s WG’s WG’s WG’s WG’s WG’s sub WG’s sub WG’s

15. IHO Decision Making - Summary • Committees and WGs only provide proposals • Unless decided at a Conference (= General Assembly) • ALL Member States are consulted by correspondence • At least a 50% positive vote is required (currently 38 votes) • Not responding, is in effect = “NO” • This is normal procedure for many inter-governmental organizations

16. International Hydrographic Organization - ECDIS Stakeholders’ Forum - Captain Robert WARD Director, IHB