THEME FOR WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2015

IHB File No. S1/1900/A CIRCULAR LETTER 03/2015 8 January 2015 THEME FOR WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2015 - “Our seas and waterways - yet to be fully charted and explored” Reference: IHO CL 64/2014 dated 10 September - World Hydrography Day –Proposed theme for 2015 Dear Hydrographer, 1. In the Reference, the Directing Committee proposed “Our seas and oceans - still to be explored and charted” as the theme for the celebration of World Hydrography Day 2015 (WHD-2015) to help raise awareness and attract support for improving the current absence of authoritative depth data for many parts of the seas and navigable waterways in the world. 2. The Directing Committee thanks the following Member States for their supportive responses to the proposal and for their comments: Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mexico, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, and USA. 3. Brazil pointed out that significant inland waterways should not be excluded from the WHD theme, Mauritius and Singapore felt that the theme should be more positive so as to reflect “work still to be done”, rather than perhaps inferring that little or no progress had already been made. USA suggested that the theme should be both brief and active. France preferred to use the definite article “the” rather than the possessive term “our”. 4. After considering all of the above comments, and noting that the theme should be easily expressed in different languages, the Directing Committee has concluded that the most suitable theme for World Hydrography Day 2015 is therefore: WHD theme 2015 : “Our seas and waterways - yet to be fully charted and explored” (English) “Nos mers et voies navigables - encore à cartographier et explorer complètement” (French) “Nuestros mares y vías navegables - aún por cartografiar y explorar totalmente” (Spanish) 5. The Directing Committee invites Member States and all others involved in hydrography to use the above theme to raise public awareness that, for example, there are higher resolution maps of the Moon and Mars than for many parts of our seas and coastal waters. The theme also provides the opportunity to promote and encourage innovative supplementary data gathering initiatives to address the current shortfall in useful bathymetric data, including crowd-sourcing and satellite derived bathymetry that were discussed at the 5th Extraordinary International Hydrographic Conference in October 2014. The theme also offers the opportunity to highlight both the missed opportunities and the potential risks involved in the continuing development of the blue economy and all other human-related activities taking place at sea, at a time when mankind still has a relatively limited knowledge of the nature and the shape of much of the seafloor and the hazards that lie upon it. 6. In support of WHD-2015 the Directing Committee will organize:  a dedicated page on the IHO web site, where papers and other material relevant to the celebration and reflecting the variety of activities supported by hydrography will be posted and which Member States can use as appropriate;  various other activities with schools in the Monaco area in order to raise awareness about hydrography, the scope and significance of WHD and the theme of the celebration; and  a reception where His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Members of His Government and other officials and representatives from diplomatic missions, other organizations and local maritime industry will be invited. 7. Member States are invited to forward to the IHB as soon as possible any material that is created in support of national WHD-2015 celebrations for posting on the IHO website. This will enable the widest possible dissemination of publicity and support material for the event. 8. The Directing Committee also welcomes any comments and suggestions to improve the organization and support of this annual event. On behalf of the Directing Committee Yours sincerely, Robert WARD President