The digital twin of the navigable waters: paving the way for e-navigation
The maritime domain is in the midst of radical changes which will propel navigation forward and open a realm of new possibilities. These transformations will pave the way for e-navigation and autonomous shipping aiming to improve safety, efficiency and sustainable vessel operations. At the core of these transformations is the digital twin of navigable waters.
Winner of the first Ex Abyssis ad Alta Award announced
“Professionalism”, “dedication”, “profound knowledge”, “expertise”, “kindness”, these are a few of the words used to describe the winner of the new Ex Abyssis ad Alta – IHO Award for Hydrographic Excellence.
Global hydrographic community grows with 100th country joining the IHO
The Republic of Kiribati has officially become the 100th Member State of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), marking a significant milestone for the global hydrographic community. This historic landmark opens up numerous benefits of being an IHO Member State, from helping carry out obligations under the SOLAS Convention, to enhancing safety of navigation, maritime security, fisheries management, economic growth, environmental protection, and climate resilience.
Understanding sea-level rise - improving predictions through studying the shape of the seabed
In many places around the world, data clearly shows the level of the sea is rising. In low lying coastal areas, even small increases when coupled with high tides and storm surges have had devastating consequences, such as altering coastlines, impacting offshore energy infrastructure and displacing populations. A better understanding of factors influencing sea level is vital in order to prepare for and mitigate its impacts.
Guidance on use of satellites to gather depth data
The IHO has published the first “Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Best Practice Guide” for the hydrographic community. The new document provides an overview of methods and factors to consider when applying SDB to map shallow coastal environments.
The IHO visits the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
On invitation of the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IHO Director Luigi Sinapi paid a High Level Visit to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas from 15 to 19 April. The Visit was aimed at resuming discussions on the Bahamas’ potential membership to the International Hydrographic Organization and on the progress made in the maritime sector of The Bahamas, to further strengthening the national capacity in the area of hydrography and improving the current Bahamian Maritime National Policy.
Seabed data to be discussed at the Ocean Decade Conference
The IHO and the OECD are co-hosting a satellite event during the UN Ocean Decade conference in Barcelona. Entitled "The Seabed Data We Need for the Ocean We Want," this session aims to look at the importance of advancing our understanding of the ocean and fostering increased investment in related activities.
Empowering Women in Hydrography: A Transformative Three-Year Journey Towards Gender Equality
Like other disciplines within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), hydrography exhibits a gender imbalance, particularly in advanced career stages. Currently, just over 10% of the 99 Member States of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) have a female National Hydrographer. And while women represent roughly half the population, only 24.8% of them occupy leadership positions with national hydrographic offices. In today’s competitive world, organizations need qualified employees to help them achieve their objectives. By not tapping into half of the available talent pool, they could be missing out.
Acknowledging this disparity, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Canadian Hydrographic Service collaboratively initiated a Canadian-funded, groundbreaking three-year project titled "Empowering Women in Hydrography," aimed at fostering gender equality in the field.
