IHO File No. S1/1900/A
CIRCULAR LETTER 03/2018
11 January 2018
THEME FOR WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2018
Reference: IHO CL 62/2017 dated 13 November - World Hydrography Day – Proposed theme for 2018
Dear Hydrographer,
1. As announced in the Reference, the theme proposed for the celebration of the World Hydrography
Day in 2018 (WHD 2018) was "Bathymetry – the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways".
The IHO Secretariat thanks the following Member States for their responses: Bangladesh, Canada, Chile,
Cyprus, Ecuador, Greece, Indonesia, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Their
comments are provided in the Annex to this letter.
2. Member States supported the proposal and highlighted how the theme is related to their national
plans for promoting hydrography. It is worth noting the suggestion from the UK for host countries of IHO
Committees, Working Groups and Regional Hydrographic Commissions to consider actively promoting
the WHD theme during these events throughout the year.
3. The theme for World Hydrography Day 2018 is therefore:
"Bathymetry – the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways"
4. In support of WHD 2018 the IHO Secretariat will organize a dedicated page on the IHO web site,
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
2018 celebrations for posting on the IHO website. This will enable the widest possible dissemination of
publicity and support material for the event.
5. The IHO Secretariat will arrange celebratory events for WHD 2018 in Monaco as in the past.
Details will be provided in due course.
6. The Secretariat also welcomes any comments and suggestions to improve the organization and
support of this annual event or future activities.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mathias JONAS
Secretary-General
Annex: Summary of Comments from Member States
Bathymetry - the Foundation for Sustainable Seas, Oceans and Waterways
Annex to IHO Circular Letter 03/2018
SUMMARY OF COMMENTS FROM MEMBER STATES
Bangladesh
Bangladesh agrees with the proposed theme, "Bathymetry - the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and
waterways" for the World Hydrographic Day 2018. The theme will raise awareness about the hydrographic
activities which facilitate in all spheres of mankind’s well-being for using the seas, oceans and waterways
as well as national economic growth in a sustained manner. Bangladesh will plan to celebrate the World
Hydrographic Day 2018 for raising awareness in accordance with the finally adopted theme.
Canada
Canada supports the choice of the theme, "Bathymetry - the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and
waterways" for World Hydrography Day 2018. Canada thanks the IHO Secretariat for its outreach efforts,
including World Hydrography Day.
Chile
We strongly support the proposed theme for the WHD-2018. We consider this an outstanding opportunity
to raise the priority that bathymetry should have, as without it, there is no possibility to improve nautical
charts and to contribute to marine scientific research.
Ecuador
I would like to mention that this Member State congratulates the Secretariat of the Organization for its
initiative and agrees with the proposed theme for the World Hydrography Day 2018, "Bathymetry - the
foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways".
Indonesia
Pushidrosal in the name of Indonesian government agrees with the theme being proposed by the IHO
Secretary-General, "Bathymetry - the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways". This theme
relates with the Indonesian government goal concerning the maritime development all over the Indonesian
waters and also the world's.
Malta
Malta agrees with the proposed theme for 2018 that is "Bathymetry - the foundation for sustainable seas,
oceans and waterways". This was discussed in detail during the IHO Council-1 and so I am of the opinion
that without Bathymetry the Navigation Charts would be useless. And this theme fits very well the purpose.
Portugal
Portugal supports the proposed theme for the World Hydrography Day 2018 (WHD 2018) "Bathymetry -
the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways" and agrees that this theme will help to raise
awareness for a better understanding of the depth and shape of the seafloor and the natural processes
associated with their change. This knowledge is not only essential for the safety of navigation but it is
crucial for all kinds of human activities developed offshore,
For this reason, Portugal welcomes the choice of the proposed theme, and considers that it is a great
opportunity to promote not only the national hydrographic surveying project "Mapeamento do Mar
Português" but also innovative and supplementary hydrographic data acquisition techniques such as
crowd-sourced bathymetry and satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB).
Bathymetry - the Foundation for Sustainable Seas, Oceans and Waterways
As such, the Portuguese Hydrographic Office plans to host, from 19 to 21 June 2018, the 5th Hydrographic
Engineering Conferences (5as Jornadas de Engenharia Hidrográfica) subordinated to the proposed theme
for the WHD 2018.
UK
In response to the above Circular Letter, the UK supports the proposed 2018 WHD theme especially with
its synergy to the outcome of the UN Ocean Conference in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14
concerning the ocean.
The UK are planning to celebrate the 2018 WHD theme at the 2nd Council Meeting, hosted in London in
October 2018, to raise the profile of hydrography with UK maritime stakeholders. Perhaps other meeting
hosts for IHO Committees, Working Groups and Regional Hydrographic Commissions should consider
actively promoting the WHD theme during these events throughout the year.
Bathymetry - the Foundation for Sustainable Seas, Oceans and Waterways
Dear Hydrographer,
Please find attached herewith :
CL 03/2018 : THEME FOR WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2018
Kind regards
Lorene Chavagnas
Office Assistant
International Hydrographic Organization
BP 445, 98011 Monaco
Tel : 00377 93 10 81 00
E-mail:
[email protected]