IHO File No. S3/8151/HSSC
CIRCULAR LETTER 35/2017
12 May 2017
9th MEETING OF THE HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE
(HSSC-9)
6-10 November 2017, Ottawa, Canada
Reference: IHO CL 08/2017 dated 25 January - Outcome of the eight Meeting of the Hydrographic
Services and Standards Committee (HSSC)
Dear Hydrographer,
1. As announced in the Reference, the 9th meeting of the Hydrographic Services and Standards
Committee (HSSC-9) will take place from 6 to 10 November 2017, kindly hosted by the Canadian
Hydrographic Service (CHS) in Ottawa, Canada.
2. This Circular Letter provides general information on the meeting and sets out a draft agenda and
timetable.
3. Participation in HSSC-9 is open to all IHO Member States, and up to two delegates each
representing Observer States and International Organizations recognised as observer organizations by
the IHO.
Venue and Accommodation
4. The meeting will be held at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, in Ottawa, Canada. General
and logistical information have been posted on the IHO website (www.iho.int > Home > Committees
& WG > HSSC > Section “Next Meeting” - Documents). Delegates requiring any assistance are invited
to liaise with CHS at
[email protected] for issues related to visa requirements and with the
HSSC Secretariat at
[email protected] for any other professional issues.
5. Attendees should book the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel at their earliest convenience, and by
2 October 2017. Due to the Remembrance Day celebrations planned on Saturday 11 November in the
vicinity of the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, delegates having a reservation in this hotel are informed
that access to and departure from the hotel might be difficult on that day, from 9:30 to 13:00, for security
reasons.
Registration
6. Registration is available online via a link in the HSSC-9 section of the IHO website (www.iho.int
> Committees & WG > HSSC > Section “Next Meeting”). All delegates intending to participate in
HSSC-9 should register by 6 September 2017.
HSSC Chair and Vice-Chair
7. Dr Mathias Jonas, Secretary-General elect, will continue as HSSC Chair until 31 August 2017.
In accordance with the HSSC Terms of Reference, Mr Mike Prince, current HSSC Vice-Chair, will then
take over as HSSC Chair from 1 September and chair the meeting. Elections for the positions of Chair
and Vice-Chair of the HSSC will be held during HSSC-9, to take effect at the end of the meeting.
Mapping our Seas, Oceans and Waterways - more important than ever
8. In order to facilitate the process of the elections, Member States are invited to nominate
suitable candidates for the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair at their earliest convenience via e-
mail to the HSSC Secretariat at
[email protected]. Nominations will be accepted until the end of the first
day of the plenary meeting (7 November).
HSSC Chair Group meeting
9. The plenary meeting will start on 7 November and will be preceded by a meeting of the HSSC
Chair Group in the afternoon of Monday 6 November, from 1400 to 1700. In addition to the Chair of
HSSC, this meeting will comprise the Chairs of HSSC Working Groups (WGs), the Secretary and the
Assistant Secretary of HSSC. If the Chair of an HSSC WG cannot be present at the HSSC Chair Group
Meeting and/or at the HSSC Meeting, they are requested to make appropriate arrangements (through
their Vice-Chair, Secretary or a representative of any IHO Member State) for the WG to be represented
and to inform the HSSC Secretariat accordingly.
Actions arising from HSSC-8
10. The current status of actions arising from HSSC-8 (see reference), is available on the IHO website
(www.iho.int > Committees & WGs > HSSC > HSSC-8 > Post Meeting Documents [Actions…] (Link))
or directly as Document HSSC9-03B (Link). Some actions are still pending. Those nominated for
actions that remain outstanding are kindly requested to address them and report the status to the HSSC
Secretariat at (
[email protected]) as soon as possible.
Draft Agenda and Timetable for HSSC-9
11. A draft agenda and timetable for HSSC-9 is provided in Annex A. Associated documents, where
known, have been listed. Member States and Observers are kindly requested to review the draft agenda
and programme and provide any comments or proposals for new or amended subjects to the HSSC
Secretariat by 25 August 2017. If necessary, a revised draft agenda and timetable will be prepared and
posted on the IHO website.
12. Delegates are invited to note that the meeting is expected to continue until 1600 on Friday 10
November and are advised to plan their travel arrangements accordingly.
Submission Deadline for HSSC-9 Documents
13. Documents intended for consideration at HSSC-9 should be submitted to the HSSC Secretariat
in accordance with the “Instructions for the Submission of Reports and Proposals for Consideration by
HSSC”, as follows:
Submission Deadline
Papers in support of Agenda items No later than 15 September
2017 (7 weeks before
(including reports from WG Chairs and proposals for new
commencement of the
work programme items)
meeting)
Papers providing comments or proposed amendments to No later than 13 October
proposals contained in meeting papers 2017 (3 weeks before
commencement of the
Such supplementary submissions should contain
meeting)
a maximum of 4 pages
14. Documents received after 13 October 2017 will be considered as information papers only,
unless decided otherwise by the Committee, in accordance with decision HSSC8/02.
15. All documents will be posted on the IHO website (Home > Committees & WG > HSSC > Section
“Next Meeting” - Link) as and when they are received. Delegates are kindly requested to circulate these
documents amongst their relevant subject matter experts and consolidate any appropriate comments to
allow effective decision making at the meeting of the HSSC and avoid, as far as is practicable, the need
to defer decisions to allow further post-meeting technical consultations.
2
Miscellaneous
16. The current list of HSSC contacts is kept updated on the IHO HSSC webpage (Link). Any
changes should be forwarded to the HSSC Secretariat (
[email protected]) at the earliest opportunity.
17. According to the arrangements outlined at HSSC-8, the 10th HSSC meeting is planned to be held
in Rostock, Germany from 14 to 18 May 2018, and the 12th HSSC meeting, in Taunton, UK, in May
2020. Proposals for hosting the 11th HSSC meeting in May 2019 and subsequent meetings to be held
in 2021 (HSSC-13) and 2022 (HSSC-14) are welcome at any time and preferably not later than at
HSSC-9.
On behalf of the Secretary-General,
Yours sincerely,
Gilles BESSERO
Director
3
Distribution:
IHO Member States
International Organizations accredited as Observers to the IHO
Chair and Vice-Chair of HSSC
Chairs and Vice-Chairs of HSSC WGs and Project Team(s)
Other HSSC Contacts
Annex:
Note: all the meeting documents are provided in the working language of the HSSC only (English)
A. Draft Agenda and Timetable
4
Annex A to IHO CL 35/2017
9th HSSC Meeting
Ottawa, Canada, 6-10 November 2017
DRAFT AGENDA AND TIMETABLE
Notes: a/ Potential presenters of papers shown in brackets ().
b/ Proposals for updating the Programme of Work will be initially reviewed under the relevant
agenda item covering each WG in turn and then, finally approved under agenda item 10.
c) The original numbering of documents will be retained even if documents are subsequently
tabled under new or adjusted agenda items.
d) Please refer to the HSSC-9 List of Documents to check the latest version of the documents.
HSSC9-XX Rev n means that a new version of document HSSC9-XX has been made available
but that it does not affect the draft agenda and timetable.
Monday
HSSC CHAIR GROUP
6 Nov
1400 - 1700 HSSC Chair Group Meeting (Chair/Vice-Chair of HSSC, Chairs of HSSC Working
Groups (WGs), Secretary and Assistant Secretary of HSSC)
Tuesday
HSSC-9 PLENARY
7 Nov
0900 Welcome Address (Director General CHS, tbc)
0915 1. Opening and Administrative Arrangements
Docs: HSSC9-01A List of Documents (IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-01B List of Participants (IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-01C HSSC – List of Contacts (IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-01D TORs for HSSC and related Working Groups (IHO Sec.)
0920 2. Approval of Agenda
Docs: HSSC9-02A Agenda and Timetable (IHO Sec.)
0930 3. Matters arising from Minutes of 8th HSSC Meeting
Docs: HSSC9-03A Minutes of HSSC-8 (IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-03B Status of Actions List from HSSC-8 (IHO Sec.)
4. HSSC Administration
Docs: HSSC9-04.1A Decisions from the IHO Assembly (A-1) affecting HSSC
(HSSC Chair/IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-04.2A Decisions from the IHO Council (C-1) affecting HSSC
(HSSC Chair/IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-04.3A Election of HSSC Chair and Vice-Chair (IHO Sec.)
A-1
1030 Group Photo and Coffee Break
5. Reports by HSSC Working Groups
1100 5.1 S-100 (S-100WG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.1A Report and Recommendations of S-100WG (S-100WG
Chair)
HSSC9-05.1B Report on S-100 Registry Management and Way
Forward (S-100WG Chair/IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-05.1C Report of the S-101 Project Team (S-101PT Chair)
1230 - 1345 Lunch
1400 5.1 S-100 (S-100WG) (continued)
Docs: HSSC9-05.1D Report of the Under Keel Clearance Management
Project Team (UKCM PT Chair)
HSSC9-05.1E Report of the S-121 Project Team (S-121PT Chair)
1500 5.2 ENC Standards Maintenance (ENCWG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.2A Report and Recommendations of ENCWG (ENCWG
Chair)
1530 Coffee Break
1600 5.2 ENC Standards Maintenance (ENCWG) (continued)
1630 5.3 Nautical Information Provision (NIPWG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.3A Report and Recommendations of NIPWG (NIPWG
Chair)
1730 Deadline for nominations for the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair of HSSC
1730 END OF DAY ONE
Wednesday
HSSC-9 PLENARY (continued)
8 Nov
5. Reports by HSSC Working Groups (continued)
0915 5.4 Nautical Cartography (NCWG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.4A Report and Recommendations of NCWG (NCWG Chair)
1030 Coffee Break
1100 5.5 Data Quality (DQWG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.5A Report and Recommendations of DQWG (DQWG Chair)
1200 5.6 Project Team on Standards for Hydrographic Surveys (HS PT)
Docs: HSSC9-05.6A Report of the IHO Project Team on Standards for
Hydrographic Surveys (HS PT Chair)
A-2
1230-1345 Lunch
1400 5.7 Tides, Water Level and Currents (TWCWG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.7A Report and Recommendations of TWCWG (TWCWG
Chair)
1500 5.8 Hydrographic Dictionary (HDWG)
Docs: HSSC9-05.8A Report and Recommendations of HDWG (HDWG Chair)
1530 Coffee Break
1600 6. Inter-Organizational Bodies
6.1 IHO-IAG Advisory Board on the Law Of the Sea (ABLOS)
Docs: HSSC9-06.1A Status Report on ABLOS activities (ABLOS Chair)
1630 7. Decisions of other bodies affecting HSSC
7.1 IRCC (incl. MSDIWG)
Docs: HSSC9-07.1A IRCC activities affecting HSSC (including MSDI) (IRCC
Chair)
1700 Break into drafting groups (if required)
1800 END OF DAY TWO
Thursday
HSSC-9 PLENARY (continued)
9 Nov
0830 Consider work of drafting group(s) (if required)
7. Decisions of other bodies affecting HSSC (continued)
0900 7.2 IMO
Docs: HSSC9-07.2A Report on IMO activities affecting HSSC (including e-
navigation) (IMO/IHO Sec.)
0945 7.3 IALA
Docs: HSSC9-07.3A IALA activities affecting HSSC (IALA)
1030 Coffee Break
1100 7.4 IEC
Docs: HSSC9-07.4A IEC activities affecting HSSC (IEC)
1145 7.5 CIRM
Docs: HSSC9-07.5A CIRM activities affecting HSSC (CIRM)
1230-1345 Lunch
1400 7.6 Inland ENC Harmonization Group (IEHG)
Docs: HSSC9-07.6A Status Report on Inland ENC Development and
Standardization (IEHG)
A-3
1430 7.7 ISO
Docs: HSSC9-07.7A ISO activities affecting HSSC (ISO/IHO Sec.)
1500 7.8 OGC
Docs: HSSC9-07.8A OGC activities affecting HSSC (OGC)
1530 Coffee Break
1600 7.9 IOGP
Docs: HSSC9-07.9A IOGP activities affecting HSSC (IOGP)
1630 END OF DAY THREE
HSSC CHAIR GROUP
1645 - ~1830 Chair Group Meeting
Preparation of List of Actions and review of draft HSSC Work Plan
Friday
HSSC-9 PLENARY (continued)
10 Nov
0900 7.10 JCOMM
Docs: HSSC9-07.10A JCOMM activities affecting HSSC (JCOMM)
0930 7.11 RTCM
Docs: HSSC9-07.11A RTCM activities affecting HSSC (RTCM)
1000 7.12 ICPC
Docs: HSSC9-07.12A ICPC activities affecting HSSC (ICPC)
1030 Coffee Break
1100 7.13 DGIWG and NATO GMWG
Docs: HSSC9-07.13A DGIWG activities affecting HSSC (UK Rep. tbc)
HSSC9-07.13B NATO GMWG activities affecting HSSC (UK Rep. tbc)
1130
8. Review of new developments and other information papers
(~ 15 min
each)
1230-1345 Lunch
1400 9. Liaison with External Stakeholders
Docs: HSSC9-09A Status of potential Stakeholders’ events in 2018 (IHO
Sec.)
4. HSSC Administration (continued)
1430 Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair
A-4
1445 10. Review and Endorsement of HSSC Work Plan and List of Actions
Docs: HSSC9-10A Status report on IHO Publications on Standards and
Specification (IHO Sec.)
HSSC9-10B Draft HSSC Work Plan (IHO Sec.)
1545 11. Any other business
12. Date & Location of the next meetings
HSSC-10: 14 to 18 May 2018 - Rostock, Germany
HSSC-11: May 2019 - Venue depending on proposals from Member States
(IHO Sec., Monaco as back up option)
HSSC-12: May 2020 - Taunton, UK, subject to the availability of the new
building)
13. Closure of the Meeting
~1600 END OF THE MEETING
A-5