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THE INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC ORGANIZATION (IHO)

The International Hydrographic Organization The IHO has as its mission :
(IHO) is the intergovernmental body charged • To promote the use of hydrography for
with ensuring that all seas, oceans and navigable navigational safety and marine environmental
waters be hydrographically surveyed and protection as well as for all other maritime
mapped through the coordinated efforts of activities, while building public awareness of
national hydrography services. The IHO has hydrography’s importance;
been hosted by the government of Monaco • To improve the global coverage, availability,
since its creation in 1921 and currently counts accessibility and quality of hydrographic data,
89 member States throughout the world. information, products and services;
• To expand global hydrographic capacity
Hydrography consists of measuring water depth as well as funding, training, science and
(bathymetry) and determining the position of techniques;
all navigational hazards resting on the seabed • To establish and support development
such as shipwrecks and rocks. It is carried out of international norms for hydrographic
primarily by ships and special craft using depth data, information, products, services and
sounders and sonar, and by aircraft equipped techniques to achieve the greatest possible
with lasers. Useful information can also be uniformity;
obtained from satellite observation. • To provide authoritative advice on all
Hydrography also measures tides and currents. hydrographic questions in a timely manner to
governments and international organizations;
Hydrographic information is crucial to the • To facilitate coordination of hydrographic
safe, efficient and sustainable conduct of all activities among member States;
human activity on, in or under the sea. Without • To improve cooperation in hydrographic
hydrography, no ship sails; without hydrography, activities between States at the regional level.
no port is built; without hydrography, no
infrastructure is developed in the sea; without
hydrography, no environmental program is
implemented; without hydrography, no coastline
is safe nor any island protected; without
hydrography, no search and rescue operation
is attempted; without hydrography, no maritime
boundary is delineated. Hydrography is integral
to the protection and sustainable development of
the oceans in ensuring the marine environment
is respected and that no negative economic or
social impact is incurred.

www.iho.int