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This Move Highlights National Commitment to Maritime Safety, Economic Growth, and Ocean Stewardship 

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is pleased to announce that the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has officially joined the Organization, marking a significant step in the nation’s efforts to enhance its maritime capabilities and sustainable ocean development. 

With a hydrographic career spanning over 25 years, the winner of this year’s Ex Abyssis Ad Alta Award has consistently demonstrated technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to innovation in hydrography in support of safer and smarter navigation. He has also been a central force in moving the S-100 implementation forward.

Seabed mapping supports all activities centred on the ocean, from safety of navigation to marine conservation, marine renewable energy, coastal resilience, and the ocean economy. This includes charting new shipping routes in polar regions to providing up-to-date data to improve climate change models.

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) proudly welcomes the Republic of The Gambia as its newest Member State, marking a significant milestone for both the Organization and the West African region. With this accession, the global hydrographic community continues to grow in Africa, underscoring the increasing recognition of the importance of hydrography for safe navigation but also coastal zone management, tourism, UNCLOS obligations and more.

In a historic breakthrough for digital navigation, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Member States have adopted the first set of operational standards within the S-100 framework. This decision paves the way for Coastal States to offer official products and services based on these standards, significantly advancing the field of maritime navigation. The adoption also has profound implications for ocean data collection and sea surveys, as these new products will require enhanced data in order to realize their full potential.

Suva & Nadi, Fiji — November 2024

Fiji became the epicenter of global ocean mapping, hydrographic collaboration and geospatial information management as it hosted a series of landmark meetings with a strong focus on Pacific engagement. From the 41st Meeting of the GEBCO Guiding Committee (GGC41) and the 6th Pacific Ocean Mapping Meeting to the subsequent UN workshops on geospatial frameworks and sustainable development, the events underscored the critical role of ocean and data governance for Pacific Island countries and territories.

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.

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 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.