International Hydrographic Organization: Difference between revisions

| name                    = International {{nowr|Hydrographic Organization}}

| membership              = 102 member states, but 2 suspended ([[List of Members of the International Hydrographic Organization|see list]])

| leader_title            = {{nowr|Secretary-General}}

The '''International Hydrographic Organization''' ('''IHO''') (French: ''Organisation Hydrographique Internationale'') is an [[intergovernmental organization]] representing [[hydrography]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hydro-international.com/content/article/first-assembly-of-the-international-hydrographic-organization-iho|title=First Assembly of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)|website=hydro-international.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marinemec.com/news/view,imo-takes-the-enavigation-reins_57139.htm|title=IMO takes the e-navigation reins|date=11 March 2019|first=Martyn|last=Wingrove|work=Maritime Digitalisation & Communications|access-date=2019-04-17|archive-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417080944/https://www.marinemec.com/news/view,imo-takes-the-enavigation-reins_57139.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|2025|5|post=,}} the IHO comprised 102 member states.

During the 19th century, many maritime nations established hydrographic offices to provide means for improving the navigation of naval and merchant [[watercraft|vessels]] by providing nautical publications, nautical charts, and other [[navigation]]al services. There were substantial differences in hydrographic procedures charts, and publications. In 1889, an International Maritime Conference was held at [[Washington, D.C.]], and it was proposed to establish a "permanent international commission." Similar proposals were made at the sessions of the International Congress of Navigation held at [[Saint Petersburg]] in 1908 and the International Maritime Conference held at [[Saint Petersburg]] in 1912.<ref>{{Cite book |author1=((International Congress of Navigation (11th : 1908 : St. Petersburg))) |url=https://archive.org/details/reportproceed00interich/page/6/mode/2up |title=Report of proceedings |author2=Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses |date=1908 |publisher=Brussels |others=University of California Libraries}}</ref>

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was established in June 1921 as the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB), with Vice Admiral Sir John Parry, KCB of the United Kingdom serving as its first President.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maschke |first=John |date=August 1999 |title=The International Hydrographic Organization - an effective international regime? |journal=Maritime Studies |issue=107 |pages=9–19 |doi=10.1080/07266472.1999.10878569 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07266472.1999.10878569 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Bermejo Baró |first=Federico |year=2019 |title=The IHO and its Secretariat - an updated history - |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/misc/M-10_2019_EN.pdf |journal=IHO Publication M-10 |pages=49–53}}</ref> In 1970, under the leadership of Guy Chatel of France, the organization adopted its current name as part of a new International Convention on the IHO, which was agreed upon by its member nations.<ref name=":2" /> The term "International Hydrographic Bureau" continued to describe the IHO's secretariat until 8 November 2016, when a major revision to the Convention took effect. Following this change, the secretariat was renamed the "IHO Secretariat," which consists of an elected Secretary-General, two supporting Directors, and a small permanent staff (18 in 2020) at the Organization’s headquarters in Monaco.<ref name=":1" />

A Council, comprising a sub-set of all the IHO Member States, meets annually and oversees the work of the IHO. A full description, together with details of the workings of all the organs of the IHO is available on the IHO website: www.iho.int <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maschke |first=John |date=July 1999 |title=The International Hydrographic Organization – an effective international regime? |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/07266472.1999.10878569 |journal=Maritime Studies|issue=107 |pages=9–19 |doi=10.1080/07266472.1999.10878569 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>IHO website: www.iho.int</ref>

Since 1968, the IHO has regularly published updated editions of the Standards of Hydrographic Surveys, with the most recent being published in 2008. <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Citation |title=IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data (S-57) International Hydrographic Organization |date=1997 |work=Spatial Database Transfer Standards 2: Characteristics for Assessing Standards and Full Descriptions of the National and International Standards in the World |pages=355–368 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-008042433-0/50029-0 |access-date=2024-11-30 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-08-042433-0}}</ref> Each of these publications was designed to incorporate technological advancements and international shipping demands. This is especially true with regards to the rise of electronic navigation equipment in the 1980s.<ref name=":0" />

The IHO also works to standardize the specifications, style, and symbols used in producing nautical charts.<ref name=":0" /> In 1971, the IHO was able to get its member states to use one single chart series, also known as INT charts.<ref name=":0" /> According to this IHO agreement, if one member state wants to publish a chart for an area covered by another member's existing chart, the duplicate must be created using the same data as the original chart. IHO Publication M-4, which was published in 1984, set specific international standards for nautical charts.<ref name=":0" />

The advent of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) made it clear to the IHO it also needed to standardize how electronic navigational data is transferred and displayed on ships. Electronic chart data was standardized and categorized in an international database referred to as Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs). The way this data is transferred from publishers to users was also standardized, as was the display and capabilities of the ECDIS.<ref name=":0" />  

The IHO has encouraged the formation of Regional Hydrographic Commissions (RHCs). Each RHC coordinates the national surveying and charting activities of countries within each region and acts as a forum to address other matters of common hydrographic interest. The 15 RHCs plus the IHO Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica effectively cover the world. The IHO, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, directs the [[General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans]] program.<ref name=":0" />

# [[Standardization]] of maritime measurements, hydrographic terminology, marine [[cartography|cartographic]] products, and geographical information systems for navigation

# High efficiency of the rapid dissemination of information on safety at sea

# Training of hydrographers and nautical cartographers