INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC ORGANISATION HYDROGRAPHIQUE
ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONALE
IHO File N° S1/1900/A
CIRCULAR LETTER 52/2018
06 November 2018
WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY
REPORT ON MEMBER STATES ACTIVITIES IN 2018 AND
THE PROPOSED THEME FOR 2019
References:
A. IHO CL 03/2018 dated 11 January - Theme for World Hydrography Day 2018
B. IHO CL 51/2018 dated 29 October - Outcome of the 2nd meeting of the IHO Council
Dear Hydrographer,
1. As announced in Reference A, the theme of World Hydrography Day (WHD) 2018 was
“Bathymetry - the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways”. This theme was intended to
raise awareness for a better understanding of the depth and shape of the seafloor, which is key to a
broader understanding of the natural processes and the success of all human activities in, on or under
the sea.
2. The following IHO Member States have reported hosting events in connection with World
Hydrography Day 2018: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK and USA. Reports are available at:
www.iho.int>Home>About IHO>World Hydrography Day>WHD 2018 Celebrations around the World
Proposed theme for World Hydrography Day 2019
3. At the second IHO Council meeting held in London, UK from 9 to 11 October, the Secretary-
General proposed the theme for WHD 2019 as follows:
“Hydrographic information to drive marine knowledge”
4. The theme signals the eminent role of hydrographic data in combination with information
provided by adjacent maritime domains and advertises the benefits of making hydrographic data
accessible to the widest possible audience for use that goes well beyond safety of navigation. It will
also acknowledge the increasing interest being shown by the UN-Committee of Experts on Global
Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in marine geospatial data.
5. The Council Member States endorsed this proposal and invited the IHO Secretariat to issue the
corresponding IHO Circular Letter. (Reference B, Decision and Action C2/36).
6. Member States are requested to take the endorsement of the IHO Council into account and to
consider the proposed theme for WHD 2019 and to provide their comments, if any, to the IHO Secretariat
no later than 28 December 2018. The IHO Secretariat would also welcome any comments and
suggestions aimed at improving the impact and the organization of annual WHD celebrations.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mathias JONAS
Secretary-General
Bathymetry –the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways
Dear Hydrographer,
Please find attached herewith :
CL 52/2018 : WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY REPORT ON MEMBER STATES
ACTIVITIES IN 2018 AND THE PROPOSED THEME FOR 2019.
Kind regards
Lorene Chavagnas
Office Assistant
International Hydrographic Organization
BP 445, 98011 Monaco
Tel : 00377 93 10 81 00
E-mail:
[email protected]