The Third Session of the Assembly of the International Hydrographic Organisation opened on Tuesday, May 2, in Monaco. More than 400 registered delegates from 81 Member States started a week of deliberating and negotiating on proposals from the IHO Council, including decisions on the updated roadmap for S-100 and capacity-building for hydrography around the world, hydro-international.com reported.
Elections on senior staff of the IHO Secretariat will take place at the end of the week. Coinciding with the assembly, a small industry and Member States exhibition is being held, where close to 50 stands are showcasing the newest technology for producing nautical charts.
The Third IHO Assembly was officially opened by Prince Albert II of Monaco, who visited the showcase after the official opening session.
The importance of hydrography, not just for safety of navigation but also to help meet the SDGs – in particular Goal 14 on healthy oceans – was stressed by all keynote speakers, including the director of IOC, Vladimir Ryabinin and Kerri-Ann Jones of OECD.
This is the first time in six years that delegates from the Member States have come together in person: after the first IHO Assembly in 2017 in Monaco, the 2nd edition was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: hydro-international.com
