IHB Files No. S3/0104
S3/8152
CIRCULAR LETTER 58/2015
17 August 2015
OUTCOME OF THE 7TH MEETING OF THE INTER-REGIONAL
COORDINATION COMMITTEE -
AVAILABILITY OF NEW WORLDWIDE ENC DATABASE (WEND) SERVICES
AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
References:
A. Document IRCC7-08D - WENDWG Report to IRCC-7 and its Annex
(Draft Work Programme 2015-16).
B. Document IRCC7-09D - Discussion on the Proposals arising from the WENDWG Report.
C. IHO Publication S-11 - Part B - Catalogue of INT Charts.
D. Document WENDWG5-05D - RENC Coverage and Overlap Checker and its User Manual.
E. Document WENDWG5-10A - Update on the IHO ENC Catalogue.
F. Document IRCC7-09B - The IHO ENC Catalogue.
Dear Hydrographer,
1. The seventh meeting of the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC-7) took place in
Mexico City, Mexico, from 1 to 3 June 2015. The Committee considered the References A and B that
are related to the activities of the Worldwide ENC Database Working Group (WENDWG). This
Circular Letter reports on the availability of new WEND services that can be used by Hydrographic
Offices, Regional Hydrographic Commissions and their International Charting Coordination Working
Groups (ICCWG). The relevant decisions and actions arising from the IRCC-7 that affect the
activities of the WENDWG and related stakeholders are also highlighted, in accordance with the draft
lists of decisions and actions posted on the IHO website that are available at:
www.iho.int > Committees&WG > IRCC > IRCC7 > Documents
2. The IRCC commended the work of the Regional ENC Coordination Centres (RENCs) in
supporting the WENDWG and the IHB (IRCC7/Decision 28). In addition to the IHO ENC Catalogue
and as proposed by the WENDWG, the IRCC agreed that the RENCs make available a new on-line
tool (IRCC7/Decision 29 and Action 57). The “RENC Coverage and Overlap Checker” tool is now
available for use by the ICCWGs and by the IHB. Using a friendly interface, the tool enables a user
to display the coverage of all the ENCs that are distributed through the RENCs and easily identify any
overlaps. The use of the RENC Coverage and Overlap Checker tool is intended to provide support for
addressing and solving ENC overlap issues. The on-line tool is hosted by PRIMAR and can be
accessed at:
https://services.ecc.no/primar/portal/
3. INT Chart Region / ENC Coordinators that are registered on the IHO website under:
www.iho.int > Standards&Publications > S-11
should contact Assistant Director Yves Guillam (
[email protected]) in order to obtain a user name and
password (one user name and password per INT charting region according to Reference C) to access
the RENC Coverage and Overlap Checker on-line tool. The User Manual (Reference D) can be
downloaded at:
www.iho.int > Committees&WG > WENDWG > WENDWG5 > Documents
4. The IRCC tasked (see IRCC7/Action 59) the IHB to continue the progressive development of
the IHO ENC Catalogue within the IHO GIS environment, in accordance with the principles set out at
the fifth meeting of the WENDWG (see Reference E) and as reported at IRCC-7 (see Reference F).
5. The IRCC endorsed the proposal of the WENDWG in Reference B that no further action
should be taken for the moment for amending the WEND Principles and the Guidelines for the
Implementation of the WEND Principles (IRCC7/Decision 31).
6. The IRCC approved the continuation of the WENDWG under its current Terms of Reference
(IRCC7/Decision 26) and endorsed its proposed work programme.
7. Decision N° 12 of the 5th Extraordinary International Hydrographic Conference (EIHC-5)
which tasked the IRCC:
“…to assess the long term consequences of not achieving full implementation of the WEND
Principles.”
will be addressed by the WENDWG through its programme of work which was approved by IRCC
(IRCC7/Decision 30). The programme of work 2015-16 of the WENDWG is now available at:
www.iho.int > Committees&WG > WENDWG > Objectives
On behalf of the Directing Committee
Yours sincerely,
Mustafa IPTES
Director
Copy: - WENDWG Chair
- Regional INT Chart / ENC Coordinators
- General Manager, IC-ENC
- Director, PRIMAR