IHO File No. S1/1900/A
CIRCULAR LETTER 01/2020
09 January 2020
THEME FOR WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2020 AND MEDIA OUTREACH
Reference: IHO CL 53/2019 dated 23 October - World Hydrography Day – Report on Member
States activities in 2019 and the proposed theme for 2020
Dear Hydrographer,
1. As announced in the Reference, the theme proposed for the celebration of World Hydrography
Day in 2020 (WHD 2020) was "Hydrography – enabling autonomous technologies". The IHO
Secretariat thanks the following Member States for their responses: Chile, Saudi Arabia and the
United Kingdom. Their comments are provided in the Annex to this letter. The Secretariat would like
to thank the Member States for their inputs and after carefully considering the proposals it was
decided that the theme would remain as initially proposed:
"Hydrography – enabling autonomous technologies".
2. The theme highlights the pivotal role of hydrography in autonomous technologies.
Autonomous platforms such as autonomous surface vehicles (ASV), autonomous underwater
vehicles (AUV) and Lidar-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), such as drones can be used to
conduct hydrographic surveys. In doing so, hydrography provides a testing ground for these
technologies, while at the same time increasing the coverage of properly surveyed areas. As a knock-
on effect, these initiatives will pave the way for the development of safe, secure and environmentally
sound Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) operations under the auspices of the IMO, which
also require certified up-to-date hydrographic information in order to be implemented.
3. In support of WHD 2020, the IHO Secretariat will feed the established IHO Facebook page,
Twitter account, LinkedIn account and YouTube channel. In addition, the IHO Secretariat will organize
a dedicated page on the IHO website, where papers and other material relevant to the celebration will
be posted. Member States and Stakeholders are invited to forward to the Secretariat any material that
they may create in support of their national WHD 2020 celebrations for posting on any of these
platforms.
4. Focus of the IHO Secretariat’s media outreach activities for 2020 will be a reminder of last
year’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first International Hydrographic Conference, which
was held in London, United Kingdom in 1919. 2020 is therefore effectively regarded as the second of
the triennium of the centenary celebrations of international cooperation in hydrography.
5. As always, the Secretariat welcomes any comments and suggestions to improve the
organization and support of this important annual event or future activities with relation to the triennium
of celebrations. The Secretariat takes this opportunity to thank all of those Member States who have
already contributed through ideas, advice and materials to this important process.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mathias JONAS
Secretary-General
Annex: Summary of Comments from Member States
Annex to IHO Circular Letter 01/2020
SUMMARY OF COMMENTS FROM MEMBER STATES
Chile
We are of the opinion that the use of autonomous sensors constitutes the application of a
technology in hydrographic works, but it does not help to increase the public awareness of the
vital role that Hydrography represents for the society. The theme tries to emphasize this
technology and not the value of the product that Hydrography generates. In our opinion, to
associate Hydrography to the technologies that will allow the autonomous operation of the
ships does not seem to be a topic that fulfills the objective of the celebration of the World
Hydrography Day. We also recall that all previous year’s themes refer to the contribution that
Hydrography makes to the society.
Saudi Arabia
Supports the proposed theme as it clearly defines the advances in technology capabilities that
the hydrographic community has embraced, to gain efficiencies in operation, time, cost and
safety.
United Kingdom
Endorses the proposed World Hydrography Day theme but suggests a slight amendment to
add more clarity: Hydrography – underpinning maritime autonomous technology development.
Saatja: CL-LC <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 10.01.2020 11:53
Adressaat: Info <
[email protected]>
Teema: CL 1/2020
Manused: CL01_2020_EN_v1.pdf
Dear Hydrographer,
Please find attached :
CL 1/2020 : THEME FOR WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2020 AND MEDIA
OUTREACH
Kind regards
IHO