SUB-COMMITTEE ON SAFETY OF
CABIGATION
45th session
Agenda item 7.1
CAV 45/7/2
2 June 1999
Original: ENGLISH
NAVIGATIONAL AIDS AND RELATED MATTERS
Guidance on chart datums and the accuracy of position on charts
Submission by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
SUMMARY
Executive summary: This IHO submission provides information on the International Hydrographic Organization's views on the proposal by the United Kingdom (NAV 44/ 14, annex 15).
Action to be taken: Paragraph 3.
Related documents: (NAV 44/7/9) and NAV 44/14, annex 15.
Background
1 The United Kingdom proposed a preliminary draft text of an SN circular (NAV 44/14, annex 15) at the forty-fourth session of the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation containing guidance on chart datums and the accuracy of positions on charts. As guidance on chart datums was already a function of most hydrographic offices the IHO requested that the matter be referred to them for comment. NAV 44 approved this proposal and required the IHO to comment before the NAV 45 meeting in September 1999.
2 The IHB informed the member States of the IHO of the United Kingdom proposal and the comments received indicate that while nearly all the hydrographic offices of coastal States are promulgating guidance on chart datums they were almost unanimous that an IMO SN circular would be beneficial. France and the Russian Federation feel that an SN circular would be a duplication of the work done by hydrographic offices. France feels that the proposed SN circular should become an IHO information paper and there are also a number of changes to the SN circular proposed by France.
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
3 As France and the Russian Federation are the only Member States holding this view, the IHO requests that NAV 45 give favourable consideration to the proposal by the United Kingdom. The views of France and the Russian Federation can be made directly during NAV 45.
