international hydrographic organization annual report 2011 ... - IHO

provides an online repository for meeting documents, IHO publications, circular letters and other
important reference documents. Mrs. BELMONTE is the primary point of contact for general updates to
the web site, while the Assistant Directors maintain the Committee, Commission and Working Group
sections for which they are responsible.
An officer was seconded to the IHB for the whole year by the Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic
Administration (KHOA) under the terms of IHO Resolution T4.2. He provided valuable assistance with
maintaining and expanding the IHO website. Dr. Sung Ho CHOI (KHOA) also carried out an open source
software development project during his term at the IHB.
Mr. Shigeru NAKABAYASHI, an officer seconded from the Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic
Department (JHOD) under the terms of IHO Resolution T4.2, provided assistance with internal IT
maintenance and the development of various database applications including the IHO on-line dictionary
between November 2008 and March 2011. He was replaced by Mr. Satoshi YAMAO, also from the
JHOD who has continued the work of Mr NAKABAYASHI with the development of a metadata database
and web map server for the Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica with multiple applications.
Communication between the IHB and Member States
through Circular Letters.
(Task 1.2.2)
During 2011 the IHB issued 83 IHO Circular Letters; two Finance Committee Circular Letters and 25
Circular Letters associated with preparations for the XVIII th International Hydrographic Conference that
took place in April 2012.
IHO Publications - production, editing.
(Task 1.2.3)
A list of new or revised IHO publications completed in 2011 is provided at Appendix I. More
information about specific technical publications is given in the relevant sections of this Annual Report.
Hydrographic Publications for which there is no specific body in
charge – S-12, S-23, S-60, etc
(Task 1.2.4)
No publications, including S-12 and S-60 have required any changes to be made during the period of this
report.
IHO Working Group on S-23
The S-23 Working Group was tasked to “Produce a revised edition of Special Publication S-23,
Limits of Oceans and Seas, and submit a report of its work together with a draft 4th edition of the
publication to the IHB no later than June 2011, for the subsequent approval of Member States”. The work
during the year was conducted by correspondence. In August the Chair of the S-23Working Group
reported that the group had been unable to complete its task in the allotted time and intended to delay the
completion date till early 2012.
IHB Technical Library
(Task 1.2.5)
The IHB Library continued to receive publications from various international organizations as well as
from IHO Member States and research institutions. About 400 new magazines, CD-ROMs, digital
publications and books on hydrography, oceanography, cartography and related matters (including the
regular subscriptions) as well as various technical brochures were added to the IHB Library in 2011. The
library is mainly consulted by the IHB Directors and Staff, but occasionally is visited by researchers.
More than 35 requests of information were provided to external researchers.
26