JAMAICA, Kingston (14 July 2016) – – The International Seabed Authority and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) today signed an Agreement of Cooperation in Kingston.
The purpose of the agreement is to specify the scope of cooperation between the IHO and the Authority where both organizations will consult each other on matters of common interest with a view to ensuring maximum coordination of their work and activities and promoting or enhancing a better understanding in the collection and exchange of standardized data and information.
The Agreement will help facilitate the exchange of bathymetric survey data, development of compatible digital input in relation to nautical charting requirements, global consistency in the treatment of bathymetric data covering ISA contract areas, development of a global approach to issuance of notices to mariners related to navigational warnings, development of standardized information in nautical publications that draw mariners’ attention to installations used by ISA contractors and development of charting policies that address hazards related to concurrent activities in the ISA contract areas.
The Agreement was signed by Secretary-General Nii Allotey Odunton on behalf of the International Seabed Authority and Robert Ward, the President of the Directing Committee of the International Hydrographic Bureau on behalf of the International Hydrographic Organization.
IHO is an intergovernmental consultative and technical organization established in 1921 and is currently governed by the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization signed at Monaco in 1967.
Above: Secretary-General Nii Allotey Odunton and Mr Robert Ward
From L-R: Secretary-General Odunton, Tidiani Couma (Monaco), Robert Ward (IHO) and Gwénaëlle Le Gurun, ISA Legal Officer
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