CL 49/2018

IHO File No. S3/4405 CIRCULAR LETTER 49/2018 04 October 2018 ADOPTION OF EDITION 4.8.0 OF IHO PUBLICATION S-4 - CHART SPECIFICATIONS OF THE IHO Reference: A. CL 40/2018 dated 7 July - Call for Approval of Edition 4.8.0 of IHO Publication S-4 – Chart Specifications of the IHO. Dear Hydrographer, 1. Reference A proposed the adoption of Edition 4.8.0 of IHO Publication S-4 - Regulations of the IHO for International (INT) Charts and Chart Specifications of the IHO – as recommended by the IHO Nautical Cartography Working Group (NCWG) and endorsed by the IHO Hydrographic Services and Standards Committee. 2. The Secretariat of the IHO thanks the 51 Member States that replied to Reference A: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela. 3. Fifty Member States supported the adoption of Edition 4.8.0 of S-4 and four Member States offered comments in addition to their vote. These comments and the outcome of their review by the Chair of the NCWG and the IHO Secretariat are provided in Annex A to this Circular Letter. 4. When Reference A was issued, there were 89 Member States of the IHO with three States suspended. In accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the IHO as amended, the minimum number of affirmative votes required was 29. As a result, and taking into account the editorial corrections reported in Annex A, Edition 4.8.0 of S-4 has been adopted. 5. The English version of Edition 4.8.0 will be posted on the IHO website at: www.iho.int > Standards & Publications > S-4 as soon as the final text prepared in liaison with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office is available. The corresponding versions in French (maintained by the Secretariat) and Spanish (maintained by the Hydrographic Office of Spain) will be published in due course. On behalf of the Secretary-General Yours sincerely, Abri KAMPFER Director Annex A: Member States’ responses to IHO CL 40/2018 and comments from the Chair of the NCWG and IHO Secretariat. Copy: Chair, NCWG Bathymetry –the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways  Annex A to IHO CL 49/2018 MEMBER STATES’ RESPONSES TO IHO CL 40/2018 AND COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR OF THE NAUTICAL CARTOGRAPHY WORKING GROUP (NCWG) AND THE IHO SECRETARIAT ADOPTION OF EDITION 4.8.0 OF IHO PUBLICATION S-4 – CHART SPECIFICATIONS OF THE IHO COLOMBIA (Vote = YES) In the Spanish translation of section B-241.2(I) we recommend the following: "También deberán mostrarse en las cartas internacionales las palabras "CARTA DE LA SERIE" o equivalente, encima e "INTERNACIONAL" o equivalente debajo de los escudos." Comment from the Chair of the NCWG/IHO Secretariat: The NCWG Chair thanks Colombia for their observations. While it is noted that section B-241.2(I) has not been modified by the proposed revisions for Ed. 4.8.0, the current Spanish version in force is consistent with the English version that was used for translation purpose. However, it is acknowledged that the syntax of the English version of this sentence could be improved. It is also noted that this sentence, in the French version in force, is not fully consistent with the English version. Therefore, it is agreed that NCWG will consider this issue at its next meeting. IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF) (Vote = YES) ln Paragraph 4, Section B-302.2, as well as Section R-405.2 or the document HSSC10.-05.4B, on the definition of datum to represent depths in non-tidal areas, it has been recommended to use Mean Sea Level (MSL), which does not seem logical due to high changes in sea levels, particularly in lakes such as the Caspian Sea. Therefore, we would like to recommend the use of Low Water (LW) instead of MSL as CD, which can be defined as the MSL calculated for a low-water period. Comment from the Chair of the NCWG/IHO Secretariat: Changes in clauses B-302.2 para 4 and B-405.2 are based on the recently amended Res 3/1919 paragraph 10 (IHO Publication M-3, updated to August 2018 refers) and relate to non-tidal areas and areas where the tidal range is negligible. Res 3/1919 has also a separate paragraph 9 for mixed and inland waters that may apply better in the cases Iran refers to. The paragraph 9 has not been taken over into S-4 as conventionally such areas have not been considered to have international shipping in the way that would require international charts and thus their standardization. This, of course, can always be reviewed if needed. ESTONIA (Vote = YES) Section A-503.4 refers to section B-502.4 that does not exist. Section A- 503.4 should refer to section A-502.4 describing the provision of the Digital Repromat. Comment from the Chair of the NCWG/IHO Secretariat: Agreed. This will be included in Ed. 4.8.0. SWEDEN (Vote = NO) All amendments in the draft edition of S-4 (4.8.0) are accepted by Sweden except B-272.3. The current change proposal for B-272.3, as it stands now, does require for the annual change to be either in minutes or in decimal degrees with two decimals. However, considering that the related amendments in B-260 and B-272.1b use expression ‘up to two decimal places’, Sweden proposes that B-272.3 also allows ‘up to two decimals’ as well as B-260 and B-272.1b. Comment from the Chair of the NCWG/IHO Secretariat: Agreed, it is an oversight from the NCWG. The change suggested by Sweden will be incorporated in the 2nd sentence of B-272.3 paragraph 2 to read “Variation must be given to one decimal place of a degree or 5’, change up to two decimal places of a degree or 1’”. Dear Hydrographer, Please find attached herewith : CL 49/2018 : ADOPTION OF EDITION 4.8.0 OF IHO PUBLICATION S-4 - CHART SPECIFICATIONS OF THE IHO. Kind regards Lorene Chavagnas Office Assistant International Hydrographic Organization BP 445, 98011 Monaco Tel : 00377 93 10 81 00 E-mail: [email protected]