IHO 
The liberated organisation 
An article by MATHIAS JONAS 
changes will be made, 
entering into force on 8 
November 0 . 
The IHO has been working on organisational changes for several years. During the 
rd Extraordinary International HydrographicOonference(BHC)ln 00 and the Inter 
national Hydrographic Conference (IHC) In 007, the constitutional documents were 
approved In the meeting but they needed support by 8 member countries. As this 
now has been reached, 
The International Hydrographic Organization IHO 
Is surrounded by the aura of Its extraordinary 
founding history and residence. In Rince Al 
bert I. of Monaco, a passionate marine researcher, 
established the IHO predecessor, the International 
Hydrographic Bureau IHB at the foothills of the 
Monte Carlo, from which today you still have a 
remarkable view onto the famous marina and the 
Mediterranean Sea. 
The prospects of this International technical or 
ganisation for welcoming a growing number of 
new member states with national hydrographic 
tasks and a corresponding modern organisational 
structure improved drastically with the Interna 
tional entry into force of the revised IHO Conven 
tion, which will take e ect as of November 
The IHO deals with many hydrographic topics In 
an up-to-date manner and has gained consider 
able reputation in the IMO, the International Mari 
time Organization of the United Nations, with the 
digital agshlp electronic sea chart ECDIS How 
ever, the constitution and organisational body are 
still characterised by pre-computer era working 
methods 
The start-up for the announced quantum leap 
took a long time: In the early years of this millen 
nium a proposal of amendments was elaborated 
to the IHO Convention by experts for public law, 
and agreed on unanimously In after intensive 
discussions on the Extraordinary Hydrographic 
Author 
Dr. Mathias Jonasis National 
Hydrographer of Germany and 
Mce Resident of the Federal 
Maritime and Hydrographic 
Agency in Fbstock. 
mathiasjonas(3bsh.de 
Conference under the chairmanship of the former 
ВЭН president Fbter Ehlers. 
The new IHO Convention, modestly called Ro- 
tocol of Amendments, enjoys the status of an 
International contract; for its entering into force 
many member states needed the approval of its 
national parliaments. The well-known attitude of 
many states towards hydrographic signi cance Is 
re ected In the rati cation history of the renewed 
contractual text. It took twelve years for the last 
member state-Sÿrla-to send the о dal rati ca 
tion approval to Its embassy In Fbrisand thus to 
obtain the quorum. 
Which changes will bring the new IHO Conven 
tion taking e ect on November and which 
bene ts will arise for the organisation? 
The most significant change concerns the ac 
cession of new members. United Nations states 
are automatically qualified for IHO membership, 
thus the formerly time consuming procedures 
for seeking the approval of a two third major 
ity of existing member states is not required 
anymore. An Increase of members does not 
only Imply a greater representation and politi 
cal Importance but also Increasing membership 
fees, which are calculated according to the ship 
tonnage under the corresponding national flag. 
Huge flag states like Liberia, Fbnama and Malta 
do not belong to the IHO yet. The simplified 
procedures give hope for the accession of Im 
portant new entries. 
The revisions of the new IHO Convention intro 
duce UN organisations, In particular to the IMO, 
with regard to the IHO Internal administration 
and organisational body. The International Hy 
drographic Bureau headquarters In Monaco will 
now be called IHO Secretariat. It will be led by a 
future Secretary General replacing the former po 
sition of the IHB Resident. Robert Ward, current 
Resident, will take over the new position in this 
legislative period until Jlily .Thesechanges 
will show consequences. So far, the Resident was 
» rst among equals« In the Directing Committee, 
that comprised a Resident and two Directors. His 
main task wasto represent the organisation to the 
outside. However, passing a resolution concern 
ing strategic and operational measures remained 
in the responsibility of the three nominated IHB 
Directors. The Resident had no directive towards 
the Directors. Based on the amended Conven 
tion this right is now given to the Secretary Gen- 
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