international hydrographic organization 2003 - IHO

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legislation and regulations governing maritime safety and security and marine environmental
protection. These actions require approval of ministerial bodies within the EAC and the individual
Partner States of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. There appears to be an opportunity to include
provisions for the LVMSA under the Protocol for the Sustainable Development of the Lake Victoria
Basin. The draft of this Protocol is nearing completion and adoption by the EAC could take place as
early as May 2003. With funding provided by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IMO has
provided an expert in maritime legislation to draft a text for the Protocol that would establish LVMSA.
This legislative expert will also work on drafting harmonized legislation and regulations necessary for
the LVMSA to operate.
The Steering Committee approved the recommendations of three consultants for the implementation of
comprehensive programs in maritime search and rescue, aids to navigation and hydrography. The
implementation plans for each of these programs provided a phased approach that could attract initial
donor funding while building indigenous capability and establishing revenue mechanisms.
The primary contribution of the IHO in addition to its current overseer role will be assistance from
IHO Member States in hydrographic training and in chart compilation as this project progresses.
Although there are provisions for future meetings of the Steering Committee, no date was set pending
the approval of enabling legislation by the East African Community and Partner States.
DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGRAPHY AND AIDS TO NAVIGATION IN THE BLACK SEA
The Working Group on the Safety of Navigation in the Black and Azof Seas (BASWG) held its 6 th
meeting under the Chairmanship of the Turkish Hydrographer, RAdm. Nazim CUBUKCU alongside the
XIIIth meeting of the MBSHC. The following actions were decided:
- Black Sea countries to define their Hydrographic and Cartographic requirements, especially as
regards the ENC production and send to Turkey before the next WG meeting.
- IMA to report to BASWG following the meeting with the EU representatives and set the time
frame for the implementation of the project in a two-month period.
- ENC production boundaries to be defined, Turkey to prepare a draft scheme for the Black Sea
before the next meeting of the WG.
- The next meeting will take place in Ukraine in Spring 2004; Ukraine to inform the MS of the
dates, three months prior to the meeting.
TECHNICAL VISITS TO CENTRAL AND WESTERN AFRICA
See under West Africa Study Team.