Council Members Discuss Progress in Transition to Smart Navigation and More
130 participants representing 45 Member States, Observers and partner organizations gathered at the IHO Secretariat in Monaco and online for the annual meeting of the Council from 15-17 October. Participants discussed topics covering education and training, technology, a potential new infrastructure center and of course the transition to smart navigation. With the provision of products and services scheduled to begin in January 2026, many of the discussions focused on progress with the implementation of S-100, the Universal Hydrographic Data Model.
The main goals of the meeting were to review the work plan, take stock of progress, and decide on priority areas for the coming year.
IHO DCDB - temporary app during NCEI outage
Hurricane Helene caused severe damage to several areas of the East Coast of the USA, which in turn has significantly impacted the operations of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville. Many of their systems including the online access to IHO DCDB-archived bathymetric data are currently down.
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.
