APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO IHO RESOLUTION 1/2005, AS AMENDED - Response to Disasters

IHB File No. S3/6003-S3/0104 CIRCULAR LETTER 29/2015 26 March 2015 APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO IHO RESOLUTION 1/2005, AS AMENDED - Response to Disasters Reference: IHO CL 14/2014 dated 6 February – Proposal for amendments to the IHO Resolution 1/2005, as amended – Response to Disasters Dear Hydrographer, 1. The Circular Letter in Reference proposed the adoption of the amendments to the IHO Resolution 1/2005, as amended – Response to Disasters. Forty-one Member States replied to the above-referenced Circular Letter: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, USA. Forty approvals were recorded. Twelve Member States provided comments with their responses. 2. Member States’ comments are provided in Annex A. The Directing Committee has taken particular note of the comments made by Canada, France, UK and USA and has adjusted the final text in order to take account of their input. It is considered that the adjustments improve the final text without introducing any significant substantive changes to the intention or meaning of the revised Resolution. 3. The final approved version of the IHO Resolution 1/2005, as amended – Response to Disasters is reproduced in Annex B. The changes are highlighted in red. 4. There are currently 82 Member States of the IHO with three States suspended. Therefore, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article VI of the Convention on the IHO, the majority required for adoption of the revised Resolution is 40. As a result, the amendments shown in Annex B have been adopted and M-3 - Resolutions of the International Hydrographic Organization will be amended accordingly. 5. The Directing Committee thanks all those Member States that responded to CL14/2014 and regrets the considerable delay in reporting the result. On behalf of the Directing Committee Yours sincerely, Mustafa IPTES Director Annex A: Member States’ responses and IHB comments. Annex B: Final Approved Version - IHO Resolution 1/2005, as amended (2015). IHB File No. S3/6003-S3/0104 Annex A to CL 29/2015 MEMBER STATES’ RESPONSES AND IHB COMMENTS (in response to IHO CL14/2014) AUSTRALIA The change of title is both more specific and of greater relevance, while the additional content focuses on data for early warning, expanding upon previous simple advice regarding collection of bathymetry, which, although it assists in modelling the impact of a potential disaster, contributes little to any response to an event. CANADA Canada agrees with the proposal, but with the following comments: 1. Change “Coastal States must …” to “Coastal States should ...” This would be sufficient language given some Member States, despite best of intentions, may not be able to fulfil such an obligation. 2. Given the resolution centres round regional cooperation, the Regional Hydrographic Commissions should be promoted as the primary coordinating bodies for this activity. IHB comment: input reflected in the final text. CHILE Item 3, proposed version: 1. Where it is written : - la mejora de los sistemas de alerta prematura de tsunamis… We suggest to replace it by : - la mejora de los sistemas de alerta temprana de tsunamis…. 2. Where it is written : - probablemente para proporcionar alertas tempranas de tsunamis y oleaje. We suggest to replace it by : - probablemente para proporcionar alertas tempranas de tsunamis y olas de tormenta. Note : « Ola de tormenta » is the term used by the IHO in the Publication S-32 to refer to « storm surges ». IHB comment: input reflected in the Spanish version of the final text. CUBA We agree with the whole proposal. Coastal data are compiled in Cuba and serve different institutions for the study of disasters and floods; at present we cannot provide real time tidal data, as not all the stations have equipment to digitize. ECUADOR The information will be sent depending on the availability of the quantity of tide gauges held by each of the countries with a capacity to issue this information. FRANCE The proposed amendments were prepared based on the proposal made by France at the IRCC5. This proposal was discussed at the meeting and better wording as proposed by the U.S. representative was approved by the IRCC; the new version of Resolution 1/2005 should be prepared using that wording. IHB comment: see IHB comment to the response of USA. MEXICO The only recommendation we have is to translate “Tsunami Early Warning Systems” by “Sistema de Alerta Temprana de Tsunamis” in Spanish. IHB comment: input reflected in the Spanish version of the final text. PERU The Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy agrees both with the exchange and transmission of tidal information in real time, and the increase of the national tidal network. PHILIPPINES The resolution is of great value in terms of a disaster just like our country experienced during the passing of typhoon “Haiyan”. The guidelines are also applicable to storm surge as included in the proposed amendment. SINGAPORE Singapore tidal station is already part of the ASEAN Tsunami Network for tsunamis and storm surge monitoring. UK [Vote:No] The UK has replaced “must” by “recommended” – It is recommended that Coastal States must also cooperate ...(see track changes) – as the IHO is a consultative and technical organization with an advisory role. The UK supports the longer term aspiration to set up sea-level and tide gauges networks, procedure and systems for the exchange and transmission of sea-level data. However, the UK does not meet these recommendations now and will not in the foreseeable future. “...... protection of coastal areas and relevant simulation studies. It is recommended that Coastal States must also cooperate to set up sea-level and tide gauges networks, procedure and systems for the exchange and transmission, in near real time (1 to 5 min), of sea-level data, properly sampled (~ 1 min rather than 15 min or 1 h), likely to provide early warnings of tsunamis and storm surges. Any necessary regional cooperation for the collection of data shallow and deep-water bathymetry can be coordinated through the IHB in liaison with the relevant Regional Hydrographic Commission, IHO Member States, other Coastal States and relevant International Organizations as appropriate such as the IOC (www.ioc-tsunami.org).” IHB comment: input reflected in the final text. USA The U.S. wishes to note an inadvertent error in the amendment language proposed in CL14. At IRCC-5, U.S. and France proposed, and participants agreed, to a revision of the text modifications initially proposed by France. In discussions we proposed the word “must” be replaced with “should” in the second sentence, suggested specific reference to the IOC Tsunami Warning Program as a key centrepiece of envisioned expansion of data sharing and collaboration, and finally that coastal states specifically consider and focus close coordination with the existing Regional Hydrographic Commissions and appropriate regional bodies of the IOC. The text that was discussed and approved at the IRCC-5 for forwarding to the Member States is as follows: “It is also very important for Coastal States to collect relevant coastal and bathymetric data in their areas of responsibility and to make this available to the appropriate organizations to support the establishment and improvement of tsunami early warning systems, protection of coastal areas and relevant simulation studies. In particular, Coastal States should cooperate and support the IOC Tsunami Warning Programme (www.ioc-tsunami.org) in setting up sea-level and tide gauges networks, procedures and systems for the exchange and transmission of near real-time sea-level data. One to 5 minute transmission of sea-level data, properly sampled ( 1 min rather than 15 min or 1h), is recommended for specific gauges likely to provide early warnings of tsunamis and storm surges. Any necessary regional cooperation for the collection of data can be coordinated through the Regional Hydrographic Commissions with other States in the Region and regional bodies of other International Organizations as appropriate, such as the IOC.” We respectfully request that the IHB consider these comments in proceeding with the amendment to Resolution 1/2005, as amended. IHB comment: input reflected in the final text. The IHB regrets that the revision of the initial proposal submitted by France to IRCC-5 was not clearly reflected in the approved report of IRCC-5, upon which IHO CL 14/2014 was based. IHB File No. S3/6003-S3/0104 Annex B to CL 29/2015 FINAL APPROVED VERSION (new text in red) IHO RESPONSE TO MARINE DISASTERS, AND CONTRIBUTION TO PREVENTION AND ALERT 1/2005 as amended xx/2015 K4.5 SYSTEMS 1 Introduction The 2004 and 2011 Indian Ocean and Japan tsunami not only severely affected local communities through the widespread loss of life and the extensive destruction of most facilities, but also severely affected safety of navigation through the destruction of port facilities and the creation of new navigational obstacles. A huge number of refugees were created and immediately suffered from shortages of food, water and fuel. In such circumstances support by sea transport was vital and depended on the immediate restoration of appropriate hydrographic and charting services. Hydrographic Offices should therefore plan to respond immediately after the occurrence of such severe disasters, within their area of responsibility, which may vary from Member State to Member State. The International Hydrographic Organization, its Member States and the Regional Hydrographic Commissions should ensure that appropriate procedures and guidelines are in place so as to enable an immediate and appropriate response to any future disaster affecting coastal areas of the world. These procedures should provide guidance to be followed at the national, regional and international levels within the over-arching structure of the IHO. Such procedures and guidelines should aim to: - ensure the immediate assessment of damage and its effect on the safety of navigation of national and international shipping, - immediately inform mariners and other interested parties of relevant damage and any dangers, particularly with respect to navigational hazards, - re-establish the basic key maritime transportation routes, and - ensure that charts and other hydrographic information of affected areas are updated as soon as possible. The procedures and guidelines should identify the type of actions required and the likely support from Hydrographic Offices needed to recover from the damage. Appropriate global or regional actions can be co-ordinated through the IHB, in liaison with the relevant Regional Hydrographic Commissions, IHO Member States, other Coastal States and relevant International Organizations, as appropriate to the circumstances, based on the general framework described in section 2 below. It is also very important for Coastal States to collect relevant coastal and bathymetric data in their areas of responsibility and to make this available to the appropriate organizations to support the establishment and improvement of tsunami early warning systems, protection of coastal areas and relevant simulation studies. In particular, Coastal States should cooperate and support the IOC Tsunami Warning Programme (www.ioc-tsunami.org) in setting up sea-level and tide gauges networks, procedures and systems for the exchange and transmission of near real time sea-level data. One to five minute transmission of sea-level data, properly sampled (~1 min rather than 15 min or 1 h) is recommended for specific gauges likely to provide early warnings of tsunamis and storm surges. Any necessary regional cooperation for the collection of data shallow and deep-water bathymetry can be coordinated through the IHB in liaison with the relevant Regional Hydrographic Commission, IHO Member States, with other Coastal States in the Region and regional bodies of other relevant International Organizations as appropriate, such as the IOC. ....... [paragraphs 2 and 3 – no change]