MesoAmerican-Caribbean MesoAmerican-Caribbean

Hydrographic CommissionHydrographic Commission Electronic Chart Working Electronic Chart Working

GroupGroupProgress ReportProgress Report

Katie Ries, ChairKatie Ries, Chair

Cartagena, ColombiaCartagena, Colombia

May 31, 2005May 31, 2005

Electronic Chart Working Electronic Chart Working GroupGroup• GoalGoal: : Demonstrate and facilitate the use of Demonstrate and facilitate the use of

official electronic chart data for safe, efficient, official electronic chart data for safe, efficient, and environmentally-sensitive maritime and environmentally-sensitive maritime navigation.navigation.

• ObjectivesObjectives::– Facilitate the production and use of ENCs and RNCsFacilitate the production and use of ENCs and RNCs– Improve hydrographic capacity of coastal statesImprove hydrographic capacity of coastal states– Identify sources for acquiring equipment, software, and Identify sources for acquiring equipment, software, and

trainingtraining– Speed up ENC production for key ports & major shipping routesSpeed up ENC production for key ports & major shipping routes– Establish data distribution service within MACHC regionEstablish data distribution service within MACHC region– Increase awareness of benefits of using EC dataIncrease awareness of benefits of using EC data

Electronic Chart Working Electronic Chart Working GroupGroup

Chair: Katie Ries, USA (NOAA)Chair: Katie Ries, USA (NOAA)

Vice Chair: LCDR Rafael Ponce (Mexican Navy)Vice Chair: LCDR Rafael Ponce (Mexican Navy)

Technical Coordinator: Dr. Lee AlexanderTechnical Coordinator: Dr. Lee Alexander

Two Task GroupsTwo Task Groups: :

1. 1. MesoAmerican Capacity Building Pilot ProjectMesoAmerican Capacity Building Pilot Project - Improve capacity building of coastal state hydrographic offices - Improve capacity building of coastal state hydrographic offices

in a defined areain a defined area

- Initial focus: the IADB-administered, GEF-funded Gulf of - Initial focus: the IADB-administered, GEF-funded Gulf of Honduras Project Honduras Project

2. 2. ENC Production and DistributionENC Production and DistributionImprove ENC coverage of the entire region in the short to Improve ENC coverage of the entire region in the short to

medium term, and promote production of ENC data by national medium term, and promote production of ENC data by national hydrographic officeshydrographic offices

Initial focus: Catalyze production of small-scale ENCs for regionInitial focus: Catalyze production of small-scale ENCs for region

Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras ProjectPollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Project

Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras ProjectPollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Project

Project Objective:

To reverse the degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems within the Gulf of Honduras by enhancing the prevention and control from maritime transport-related pollution in the major ports and navigation lanes, improving navigational safety to avoid groundings and spills, and reducing land-based sources of pollution draining into the Gulf.

Major Project Components

Component 1: Building regional capacity for maritime and land-based pollution control.

Component 2: Building the information base for the Strategic Action Plan.

Component 3: Enhancing navigational safety in shipping lanes.

Component 4: Improving environmental management and hazard reduction in network of five ports within the Gulf of Honduras

Major Project Components

Component 3: Enhancing navigational safety in shipping lanes.

Focuses on improving the hydrographic and oceanographic cooperation in the region to both prevent and prepare for groundings and spills in the Gulf related to marine transportation operations

(references active collaboration with MACHC)

Hydrographic data acquisition for priority ports including updatingsurveys where needed.

Create ENC for priority ports and pilot an inclusion of env. data layers.

Integrate hydrographic data / ENC applications in the project’s env. information management system and facilitate access.

Create institutional arrangement for conducting hydrographic work.

Survey ENC GIS

Project Hydrographic

Support

Establishment of formal training.

ProgressProgress

• Project approved by the Global Environment Facility and the Project approved by the Global Environment Facility and the InterAmerican Development BankInterAmerican Development Bank

• COCATRAM designated the regional executing agency and a COCATRAM designated the regional executing agency and a Project Coordinating Unit being set up in Puerto CortesProject Coordinating Unit being set up in Puerto Cortes

• Project could become operational by the end of this yearProject could become operational by the end of this year

• IHB visit to Central America carried out in Feb/March 2005IHB visit to Central America carried out in Feb/March 2005 to reinforce formation of national coordinating committeesto reinforce formation of national coordinating committees

and importance of S-55and importance of S-55

• Actively coordinating with IHO Capacity Building CommitteeActively coordinating with IHO Capacity Building Committee

• Began development of hydrographic workplan, starting with Began development of hydrographic workplan, starting with survey priorities for Gulf of Honduras Marine Highwaysurvey priorities for Gulf of Honduras Marine Highway

Initial Survey PrioritiesInitial Survey Priorities

• Identified the individual country survey prioritiesIdentified the individual country survey priorities

• While all are important, the Bahia de Amantique its While all are important, the Bahia de Amantique its approaches to the ports of Santo Tomas and approaches to the ports of Santo Tomas and Puerto Barrios should be highest priority based on Puerto Barrios should be highest priority based on the following:the following:

-These two ports represents greatest volume of traffic-These two ports represents greatest volume of traffic-Feasible given likely amount of funding-Feasible given likely amount of funding-integrate the rest of the proposed regional “marine highway” -integrate the rest of the proposed regional “marine highway” -Presents an opportunity for all participating countries to learn -Presents an opportunity for all participating countries to learn

how to conduct resurveys of particularly unstable areahow to conduct resurveys of particularly unstable area-provide updated information for charts -provide updated information for charts -Environmental risks due to shipping accidents is particularly -Environmental risks due to shipping accidents is particularly

greatgreat

Still to be doneStill to be done

• Identify means to conduct surveys Identify means to conduct surveys

(Contract vs. In-Country) and establish sustained (Contract vs. In-Country) and establish sustained capabilitycapability

• Either option requires training (Cat. A and B) and Either option requires training (Cat. A and B) and support to cost outsupport to cost out

• Identify ENC production needs and how to Identify ENC production needs and how to accomplishaccomplish

• Identify pilot activity to demonstrate applications Identify pilot activity to demonstrate applications for environmental protection for environmental protection

• Produce full plan and associated budget for the Produce full plan and associated budget for the countries to advancecountries to advance

Capacity Building Assistance Capacity Building Assistance NeededNeeded(MACHC and IHO/CBC)(MACHC and IHO/CBC)1.1. Category A and B Training for key personnel Category A and B Training for key personnel 2.2. Category A hydrographer to help do survey Category A hydrographer to help do survey

assessment and planning for GoH Project assessment and planning for GoH Project 3.3. Ongoing advice for project implementationOngoing advice for project implementation4.4. High level country visits to reinforce national High level country visits to reinforce national

hydrographic coordinating committeeshydrographic coordinating committees5.5. Other partnerships to support other project Other partnerships to support other project

activities activities 6.6. Identify GoH Project as a priority for regionIdentify GoH Project as a priority for region

Task Group 2: Small-Scale Task Group 2: Small-Scale ENCsENCs• Agreed at last meeting:Agreed at last meeting:

– INT Chart scheme will be basis for productionINT Chart scheme will be basis for production--Will use proposed French ENC cell scheme to --Will use proposed French ENC cell scheme to

address overlaps in ENC cell coverageaddress overlaps in ENC cell coverage– Identified HOs willing to produce INT paper Identified HOs willing to produce INT paper

charts and ENCs charts and ENCs – Produced ENCs should undergo a consistency Produced ENCs should undergo a consistency

check by 3rd party (IC-ENC and Primar check by 3rd party (IC-ENC and Primar Stavanger have offered).Stavanger have offered).

– Small-scale ENCs will be available free-of-Small-scale ENCs will be available free-of-charge.charge.

INT 4015

INT 4025

INT 4023

INT 4022

INT 4021

INT 4011

INT 4012

INT 4013

INT 4016

INT 4017

MACHC Small-Scale ENC Cell Boundaries *

* Proposed by France; agreed by TG2, 1 September 2004

Red Limits represent the roughly equivalent Paper INT Charts

Priority Ports/Routes for Priority Ports/Routes for ENCsENCs• Accomplished:Accomplished:

– Minor revisions in area designationsMinor revisions in area designations– Added additional ports (e.g., Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Added additional ports (e.g., Colombia, Cuba, Mexico,

Suriname, USA, & Venezuela) Suriname, USA, & Venezuela) – Incorporated/highlighted cruise ship portsIncorporated/highlighted cruise ship ports– Added Environmentally Sensitive Sea Areas (ESSAs)Added Environmentally Sensitive Sea Areas (ESSAs)– Began development of a detailed table for each areaBegan development of a detailed table for each area– Added GoH Project PortsAdded GoH Project Ports

• Need:Need:– A more detailed map of area boundariesA more detailed map of area boundaries– Determine Pacific Ocean portsDetermine Pacific Ocean ports

ENC Distribution OptionsENC Distribution Options• AccomplishedAccomplished

– Preference is for:Preference is for:a) To establish own RENCa) To establish own RENCb) Or, join an existing RENCb) Or, join an existing RENC

– Designated a small Designated a small Task GroupTask Group to look into pros and to look into pros and cons of each optioncons of each option• ColombiaColombia• CubaCuba• MexicoMexico• Venezuela (Chair)Venezuela (Chair)

Workshop held in UK (2/05) to look at regional options. Workshop held in UK (2/05) to look at regional options. Task Group to provide recommendations at next Task Group to provide recommendations at next MACHC meeting MACHC meeting