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K. R. Srinivasan

World Hydrographic Day (WHD) is celebrated on June 21 every year under the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) to commemorate the establishment of the IHO by 19 Member States in 1921 in the Principality of Monaco and to propagate the benefits of Hydrography to the World Community. The Vision of the 90-Member-States-strong IHO is to advance Maritime safety and efficiency and support the protection and sustainable use of the Marine environment. The Mission of the IHO is to create a global environment in which States provide adequate and timely hydrographic data, products and services and ensure their widest possible use.

“Hydrography” is the branch of Applied Sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of the oceans for the primary purpose of marine navigation and also for offshore economic development, security and defence, scientific research and environmental protection.

More than 90 per cent of global trade and over 70 per cent of the annual value of world oil consumption are transported through sea routes.

It is forecast that shipping will grow yearly by 2.4 per cent until 2013 on economic growth with around 1 lakh vessels in 2008, of which 48,000 ply internationally. An additional 51,000 vessels over 100 GRT consist of fishing/service/ offshore/research vessels that need carriage compliant charts. Security and environmental considerations have prompted coastal states to develop sea traffic surveillance and control with early information on vessel movements within national waters. Such systems need to interface with up-to-date and accurate digital charts information in standard international format by maritime states through a maritime safety information (MSI) network.

Conventional paper charts, containing a wealth of marine information have been in use for over four centuries in Indian waters. The advent of the digital era and the Global Maritime Distress & Safety Service (GMDSS) in 1992 led the IHO’s Work Programme for the ENCs, with added safety features.

The United Nations General Assembly and UNCED Agenda 21 , had from the “Year of the Oceans (1998)” onwards, called on member-states to collect and disseminate hydrographic data and information worldwide not only for safety of navigation, but also for maritime development and maritime environmental protection.

Based on the common specifications, standards and formats of IHO, most member-states have produced ENCs for their areas, with principle advantages of seamless connectivity data, advantage of any scale and overlay data use for different applications. The ENCs have intelligent tools to warn mariners of impending navigational dangers. Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) in ships with built-in hardware/software/safety features display legally valid ENCs, meeting the Chart Carriage requirements under SOLAS. ECDIS acts as the “black box” of user movements with facility of playback to fix accountability in cases of accidents. Voyage planning, tracking, MEP/containment and other functionalities are possible with ECDIS/ENCs, duly updated by digital notices to mariners using advanced communication means. Marine accidents, especially in shallow waters, can be reduced by 40 per cent through use of approved ENCs on a compliant ECDIS platform.

With worldwide sea coverage of ENCs at 70 per cent, the IHO is committed to achieve 100 per cent coverage by 2010. The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) has produced ENCs covering the entire Indian and adjoining sea areas. These are in the public domain in India and abroad and used with increasing revenue.

With sweeping global changes, the heavily invested INHD must be freed of the Navy and perform with autonomy, especially in the areas of improved operations/production, greater revenue returns on investments, closer synergy with other national and international maritime agencies, value added products and services and international cooperation. The Indian Government must continue its strong support for hydrographic activities under the UN/IHO/IMO conventions.

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