IHO Publication S-5B

THIS CIRCULAR LETTER INVITES YOU TO VOTE IHB File No. AB-4/S-5 CIRCULAR LETTER 53/2015 16 July 2015 IHO PUBLICATION S-5B - STANDARDS OF COMPETENCE FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYORS, CATEGORY B - REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF NEW PUBLICATION References: A. IHC-XVIII - Decision No. 18 - IHO Work Programme 2013-2017 B. IHO Circular Letter 14/2013 dated 15 February - International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC) – Revision of the Standards C. IHO Circular Letter 64/2013 dated 11 November - Outcome of the 5th meeting of the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC5) D. IHO Circular Letter 72/2013 dated 10 December - Capacity Building and Standards of Competence Stakeholders’ Seminars E. IHO Circular Letter 57/2014 dated 12 August - Outcome of the 6th meeting of the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC6) F. IHO Circular Letter 31/2015 dated 10 April – Development of the new IHO Publications S-5A and S- 5B G. Document IRCC7-08G2 - S-5B Standards development and feedback from Member States and Stakeholders H. IHO Resolution 2/2007 as amended - Principles and Procedures for Making Changes to IHO Technical Standards and Specifications Dear Hydrographer, 1. This Circular Letter invites Member States to adopt Edition 1.0.0 of IHO Publication S-5B - Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors, Category B. 2. The XVIIIth International Hydrographic Conference approved Task 3.3.9 in the 2013-2017 IHO Work Programme (Reference A) for the development of a new standards of competence framework by the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). 3. The development of the relevant supporting standards of competence was announced in References B, C, D and E. Reference F requested additional input and comments from Member States. The results were reported to the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) at its 7th meeting in June (Reference G). 4. At its 7th meeting the IRCC endorsed the draft of the new Edition 1.0.0 of IHO Publication S-5B. The Committee confirmed that the development process for S-5B had followed the procedures described in Reference H. Edition 1.0.0 of S-5B is intended to replace the relevant Category B syllabus elements in Edition 11.1.0 of IHO Publication S-5. The Committee went on to approve an updated development plan for the associated suite of new Standards of Competence (Reference G). In accordance with this plan the IBSC intends to present a new IHO Publication S-5A, covering Category A courses for hydrographic surveyors to IRCC8 next year. This will be followed by seeking its adoption by Member States and the subsequent withdrawal of the current edition of S-5. 5. The proposed new publication S-5B is now available for inspection by Member States on the IHO website at www.iho.int → Standards & Publications → Download → Draft Publications Awaiting Approval by Member States. The text is available in English only. 6. Noting that the development of S-5B has followed the relevant IHO guidelines concerning the introduction of new or revised IHO standards and has been endorsed by the IRCC, Member States are invited to consider the adoption of IHO Publication S-5B and to indicate their position using the Voting Form at Annex A. Responses should be submitted to the IHB no later than 30 September 2015. 7. Subject to the approval of Member States, IHO publication S-5B will enter into force on 1 January 2016 and will then govern all programmes due to be submitted to the IBSC by 31 December 2016 and thereafter. 8. An accompanying document - "Guidelines for the Implementation of the Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors” is also available at www.iho.int → Standards & Publications → Download → Draft Publications Awaiting Approval by Member States. It is intended to assist educational and training organizations in the preparation of submissions to the IBSC for its consideration in relation to both the S-5A and S-5B Standards. On behalf of the Directing Committee Yours sincerely, Mustafa IPTES Director Annex A: Voting Form Copy (by e-mail): Chair of the IBSC  Annex A to IHO CL 53/2015 IHB File N° AB-4/S-5 VOTING FORM (to be returned to the IHB no later than 30 September 2015 E-mail: [email protected] - Fax: +377 93 10 81 40) Member State: Contact: E-mail: ADOPTION OF NEW PUBLICATION S-5B 1. Do you approve the adoption of new Publication S-5B Edition 1.0.0 - Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors Category B? YES NO 2. Comments (if required)