IHO File No S3/2644/A CIRCULAR LETTER 55/2019
15 November 2019
HYDROGRAPHIC DICTIONARY – S-32
References:
A. IHO CL 7/2010 dated 14 January – Hydrographic Dictionary (S-32)
B. IHO CL 30/2019 dated 25 June - Outcome of the 11th Meeting of the Hydrographic
Services and Standards Committee (HSSC).
Dear Hydrographer,
1. Reference A announced the availability of the Wiki-based online dictionary to replace the
previous unsupportable online version. The challenges of updating the French version and
the lack of capacity within the Secretariat for developing a Spanish version was highlighted.
2. Over the past two years the Hydrographic Dictionary Working Group (HDWG) and the
Secretariat have undertaken a complete review of all the terms and definitions contained in
the three language versions (English, French and Spanish). All three versions have been
aligned using a unique term reference identifying number, which has allowed direct alignment
of terms and definitions across the languages.
3. At the second meeting of the HDWG in 2018, China and Indonesia agreed to undertake
the necessary translation work to generate comparative Chinese and Indonesian versions,
which were directly linked to the IHO Reference version database through the unique identifier.
The completion of this work was reported to the 11th meeting of the Hydrographic Services and
Standards Committee (HSSC11), which commended the HDWG, supported by the IHO
Secretariat, for the work done on the development of the new S-32 Hydrographic Dictionary
(Reference B).
4. It is now intended to withdraw the former Wiki-based online dictionary and replace it
with a new searchable multi-language data based version. Although there remain some gaps
in the completeness of the French database, it is now possible to search for a term in the IHO
Reference version (English), French, Spanish, Chinese and Indonesian as well as translating
from or to the IHO Reference version into one of the available languages. It is hoped additional
language databases of terms and definitions will be available in the near future. In addition,
the opportunity has been taken to investigate the process and methodology to harmonize the
Hydrographic Dictionary and the IHO GI Registry to ensure consistency of terminology.
5. It should be noted that the HDWG will only maintain the IHO Reference version and
the maintenance of individual national languages versions remains with the Member State
undertaking the initial development or updating. The HDWG will inform concerned Member
States of changes, amendments, additions and deletions to the IHO Reference version, so
that each national language version can be revised and a new database submitted to the
Secretariat for publishing on the website.
6. The link to the new Hydrographic Dictionary is available from the IHO website at
(https://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/IHO_Download.htm).
7. Member States are requested to consider supporting the work of the HDWG by
appointing suitably qualified personnel to the HDWG. Member States wishing to develop and
maintain their own national language version, should request a copy of the IHO Reference
version database to enable them to match terms against the unique identifying number.
On behalf of the Secretary-General
Yours sincerely,
Abri KAMPFER
Director
Distribution List:
IHO Member States
Copy to: HDWG Chair
Saatja: CL-LC <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 15.11.2019 16:51
Adressaat: INFO <
[email protected]>
Koopia: <
[email protected]>
Teema: CL 55/2019
Manused: ipnchjoennehhhig.png; CL55_2019_EN_v1.pdf
Dear Hydrographer,
Please find attached herewith :
- CL 55/2019: HYDROGRAPHIC DICTIONARY – S-32.
Kind regards