international hydrographic organization 2003 - IHO

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INTRODUCTION
The International Hydrographic Organization is pleased to present its Annual Report for 2003 to IHO
Member States and to those organizations, institutions and persons interested in the progress made in
international hydrographic affairs.
This Annual Report summarizes the activities carried out by the Regional Hydrographic Commissions,
the various Committees, Commissions, Working Groups and Advisory Boards established to handle in
detail the variety of IHO related activities.
The Report is in two parts: Part 1 – General covers the general activities of the Organization and is
given a wide circulation, whereas Part 2 – Finance consists of the presentation of the Financial
Report, which is for internal distribution to Member States, only.
Part 1 – General is structured in line with the five Programmes described in the Work Programme
2003-2007, approved by the XVIth International Hydrographic Conference in April 2002. In order to
facilitate the reading for those readers who are not familiar with the IHO, the contents of the Annual
Report are presented in a descriptive manner, in the hope that it will provide adequate information and
thus constitute an IHO public relations tool.
Although all the activities carried out in 2003 are important and effectively contribute to achieving the
IHO Mission, the Directing Committee would like to highlight some of them, due to the importance
they represent in strengthening the Organization. Particular reference is made to the progress of the
Strategic Planning Working Group, which is searching mechanisms to increase the efficiency and
effectiveness of the IHO. Reference is also made to the establishment of the Capacity Building
Committee, which provides the necessary link in establishing new hydrographic services, and which
supports the improvement of the capacities of developing hydrographic services, and to the updating
of Publication S-55 “Status of Hydrographic Surveying and Nautical Cartography Worldwide”; this
updated publication will be a very useful document to the IHO efforts in Capacity Building. Note
should also be made of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 58/240 that welcomed the
work of the IHO and its fourteen Regional Commissions and encouraged 1) increased membership in
the IHO, 2) transition to Electronic Navigational Charts, 3) increased coverage of hydrographic
information and 4) intensified efforts to build capacity to improve hydrographic services and the
production of nautical charts.
We could not end this Introduction without referring to the Centenary Celebrations of the General
Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans Project - “GEBCO”, which was initiated by H.S.H. Prince Albert Ist
of Monaco, and which is today jointly pursued with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission, with the invaluable and continuous support of the Principality of Monaco.
Finally, the Directing Committee encourages the readers of this IHO Annual Report - 2003 to visit the
IHO website - www.iho.shom.fr , where they will find more detailed information on the work of the
International Hydrographic Organization.
Thank you.
The Directing Committee