16^th APEC
TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
HONG KONG, CHINA
NOVEMBER 1999

STEERING COMMITTEE ON SAFE AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS (INCLUDING TECHNOLOGIES)

EXPERTS GROUP ON MARITIME SAFETY
HYDROGRAPHIC INITIATIVE
Submitted by Australia

November 1999

16^th APEC TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
MEETING – HONG KONG,CHINA – NOVEMBER 1999
EXPERTS GROUP ON MARITIME SAFETY

AGENDA ITEM 12: HYDROGRAPHIC INITIATIVE

Background

The UN General Assembly in resolution A/RES/53/32 entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea" adopted on 24 November 1998, invited States "to co-operate in carrying out hydrographic surveys and nautical services for the purpose of ensuring safe navigation as well as to ensure the greatest uniformity in charts and nautical publications and to co-ordinate their activities so that hydrographic and nautical information is made available on a world wide scale"

The IMO Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation proposed revision of SOLAS Chapter V contains a new Regulation 9 (NAV 45/14/Add.1) which requires contracting Governments to arrange for Hydrographic Services to be undertaken. The nature of the services is described in the Regulation and includes that Contracting Governments undertake to cooperate in carrying out nautical and hydrographic services in the manner most suitable for the purpose of aiding navigation to:

• Ensure that hydrographic surveying is carried out, as far as possible, adequate to the requirements of safe navigation;

• Prepare and issue official nautical charts, sailing directions, lists of lights, tide tables and other official nautical publications, where applicable, satisfying the needs of safe navigation;

• Promulgate notices to mariners in order to keep official nautical charts and publications as far as possible, up to date;

• Provide data management arrangements to support these services.

Contracting governments are also to undertake to ensure the greatest possible uniformity in charts and nautical publications and to take into account relevant international resolutions and recommendations.

National hydrographic services are responsible for the provision of nautical charts and other maritime safety information. These charts are essential for the efficient navigation of ships, for the efficient operation of ports, and for the protection of life and property at sea. They are also essential in ensuring the protection of the marine environment and dependant industries e.g. tourism, fishing, from the pollution which is often the consequence of a navigational accident.

Most of the APEC Member States have well established hydrographic services, but in many APEC member states the national chart series have significant shortcomings. These shortcomings are the consequence of a lack of modern survey data or an inability to produce new editions of charts. Inability to correct these shortcomings is often related to inadequate funding.

The co-incidence of computer technology and satellite systems has greatly improved the prospects for safety of navigation by providing the capability for a continuous real-time display of ships position and intended movement in relation to surrounding dangers. Alarms for standing into danger are available. Such systems greatly reduce the prospect of human error, they reduce watch-keeping stress, and they enable watch-keeping officers to attend more closely to other vital tasks such as collision avoidance.

Unfortunately the efficacy of such systems is reduced if the national charts contain unreliable survey data. Two aspects are of particular importance. First, old charts may not provide a clear definition of all the hazards that might constrain the navigation of a modern vessel, and second, old charts may be constructed on a horizontal datum which is not appropriate for satellite navigation.

If the full commercial and safety benefits of these new navigation systems are to be realised, governments will be required to invest in the improvement of their official charts by conducting surveys and by revising the charts.

Governments will be unwilling to make the necessary investment unless they are convinced that there will be a real return in terms of improved safety and environmental insurance.

Unfortunately little analytical work has been done to examine and quantify the economic and environmental benefits which flow from the provision of hydrographic services. Two studies were attempted in the early 1990s by the Canadian and Australian Hydrographic Services, but they were nation specific. They were very useful in their time, but may now seem somewhat dated. A more recent study would have preceded the drafting of the United States Hydrographic Services Improvement Act 1998, but this study is not in the public domain. There may be other examples.

In order to support the improvement of navigational safety and the protection of the marine environment through provision of improved chart services, the APEC Experts Group on Maritime Safety might consider sponsoring some studies on the benefits of hydrographic services in the next decade, in an APEC regional context.

Several subjects might be considered for APEC sponsored research, possible examples include:-

• The economic value of hydrographic services in the APEC region.
• The environmental benefits of strong hydrographic services in the APEC region.
• The impact of hydrographic services on the development of the cruise shipping industry in the region.
• The importance of hydrography to inter-island shipping in archipelagic states.
• A study of national legislation relating to Hydrographic Services in the APEC area.
• The process and cost of converting hydrographic offices to produce digital navigation services.

There is also the potential for APEC to sponsor training in surveying and cartography to improve national capacity and expertise in these subjects. Quite a number of courses are available around the world, but fees and expenses are a problem, and many of the courses are over-subscribed, so training is in short supply.

Recommendation

Australia recommends that the Experts Group on Maritime Safety discuss the potential for an APEC funded project examining the value to member economies of providing hydrographic services in the APEC region.

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