SPWG Final ReportSPWG Final Report

88thth. Meeting at Pusan Korea. Meeting at Pusan Korea

From 2 to 4 May 2006From 2 to 4 May 2006

VII MACHC Meeting October 4th. 2006

Acapulco, Gro. México

SPWG 8 (Final meeting)SPWG 8 (Final meeting)

► Regional Commissions represented:Regional Commissions represented:BSHC, EAHC, EAtHC, MACHC, MBSHC, BSHC, EAHC, EAtHC, MACHC, MBSHC, NHC, NIOHC, NSHC, SAIHC, SWPHC NHC, NIOHC, NSHC, SAIHC, SWPHC and USCHC.and USCHC.

► individual countries: Australia, Brazil, individual countries: Australia, Brazil, China, China Hong Kong, Finland, China, China Hong Kong, Finland, France, Italy, India, Japan, Mexico, France, Italy, India, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, UK Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, UK and USA.and USA.

► IHB represented by the President.IHB represented by the President.

Ratification Status from MSRatification Status from MS

►So far Germany, Cyprus, Korea, So far Germany, Cyprus, Korea, Denmark, México, Morocco, Norway y Denmark, México, Morocco, Norway y Pakistan have ratified the Pakistan have ratified the Amendments.Amendments.

►By the end of 2006 it is expected that By the end of 2006 it is expected that Australia, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Australia, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, South Africa, Netherlands and Japan South Africa, Netherlands and Japan ratify the Amendments.ratify the Amendments.

Revision of the Basic Revision of the Basic DocumentsDocuments

► The main new topics developed were Article 6 The main new topics developed were Article 6 dealing with the establishment of subsidiary dealing with the establishment of subsidiary organs and subordinate bodies.organs and subordinate bodies.

►New Art. 7 to cover inter-organizational New Art. 7 to cover inter-organizational bodies.bodies.

► Article 14 was discussed and some editorial Article 14 was discussed and some editorial amendments made, dealing with the amendments made, dealing with the procedures of selection of Council members.procedures of selection of Council members.

► Article 18 of the Rules of Procedure of the Article 18 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council regarding official languages.Council regarding official languages.

►Minor amendments were made to the texts of Minor amendments were made to the texts of the other Basic Documents (mainly editorial)the other Basic Documents (mainly editorial)

Implementation Strategy and Implementation Strategy and SPWG Work Program SPWG Work Program

►Mechanism of Assembly timing.Mechanism of Assembly timing.► Election of the Secretary-General and Election of the Secretary-General and

Directors .Directors .► Salary Scheme for SG and Directors.Salary Scheme for SG and Directors.► Re-structuring of IHO bodies proposed by the Re-structuring of IHO bodies proposed by the

CBC and CHRIS Chairmen and to take place CBC and CHRIS Chairmen and to take place before the ratification procedure is completedbefore the ratification procedure is completed

► To present the implementation strategy to To present the implementation strategy to the 17the 17thth. Conference for approval. Conference for approval

Reports from the CBC and Reports from the CBC and CHRIS Chairmen CHRIS Chairmen

► Some details of CHRIS principles have been added Some details of CHRIS principles have been added to comply with new Articles 6 and 7 of the General to comply with new Articles 6 and 7 of the General Regs.Regs.

► Decisions made on CBC:Decisions made on CBC:General structures for HSSC and IRCCBC were General structures for HSSC and IRCCBC were approved.approved.IRCCBC went back to its original IRCC.IRCCBC went back to its original IRCC.WEND policy matters under IRCC until the council is WEND policy matters under IRCC until the council is established.established.Inter-organizational bodies will be governed by the Inter-organizational bodies will be governed by the new Article 7 of the General Regulations. new Article 7 of the General Regulations. Amendments to HSSC and IRCC ToRAmendments to HSSC and IRCC ToR

Hydrographic Standards and Specifications

Committee (HSSC)

Symbols and Data Presentation Standards Sub-Committee (SDPS)

Data Acquisition and Transfer Standards Sub-

Committee (DATS)

Support Services and Special Projects Sub-

Committee (SSSP)

Working Groups / Sub-Committees

Inter-Regional Coordination Committee

(IRCC)

Capacity Building Sub-Committee

(CBSC)

International Advisory Board (IAB)

Committee for the Promulgation of Radio

Nav. Warnings (CPRNW)

General Bathymetric Chart

of the Oceans Committee (GEBCO)

Working Groups / Sub-Working Groups

Legal Advisory Group (LAG)Legal Advisory Group (LAG)

►New Article of General Regs:New Article of General Regs:

Article xx - "Legal Advice”Article xx - "Legal Advice”When a need arises for legal advice on When a need arises for legal advice on matters relating to the interpretation and matters relating to the interpretation and application of the Convention, IHO basic application of the Convention, IHO basic documents and execution of the aims of the documents and execution of the aims of the IHO as described in the IHO Work Program, a IHO as described in the IHO Work Program, a Working Group of legal experts drawn from Working Group of legal experts drawn from all Member States may be established by all Member States may be established by the Assembly or by Member States through the Assembly or by Member States through correspondence."correspondence."

Report from the IHB on proposals from Report from the IHB on proposals from the SPWG (Salary scheme and the SPWG (Salary scheme and

acceptance of conversion from D.C. to acceptance of conversion from D.C. to S.G. and Directors)S.G. and Directors)

►A WG has been established to review A WG has been established to review the salary scheme for SG and Ds.the salary scheme for SG and Ds.

►Clause of acceptance had been Clause of acceptance had been included in the application for included in the application for Directorship.Directorship.

Composition of the future Composition of the future CouncilCouncil

► Two thirds of seats on the Council for Two thirds of seats on the Council for representatives from Regional Hydrographic representatives from Regional Hydrographic Commissions and the remaining one third based on Commissions and the remaining one third based on the criteria of “Hydrographic Interest”. the criteria of “Hydrographic Interest”.

► Two countries at present not represented in any Two countries at present not represented in any RHC: Argentina and Uruguay.RHC: Argentina and Uruguay.

► Some SPWG members felt that they could apply Some SPWG members felt that they could apply within the 1/3 of Hydrographic Interestswithin the 1/3 of Hydrographic Interests

► SPWG agreed to maintain the system composition SPWG agreed to maintain the system composition of the Council approved at the 3of the Council approved at the 3rdrd. EHC. EHC

► Encourage MS to establish or join a RHCEncourage MS to establish or join a RHC► MS could make proposals to the 17MS could make proposals to the 17thth. IHC. IHC

Hydrographic InterestsHydrographic Interests

► New models proposed by Brazil, France, México, New models proposed by Brazil, France, México, Portugal and Tunisia.Portugal and Tunisia.

► Tonnage was accepted at the 3Tonnage was accepted at the 3rdrd. EIHC as the initial . EIHC as the initial parameter.parameter.

► Any alternative model should be presented at least Any alternative model should be presented at least at the second Assembly.at the second Assembly.

► SPWG considered several multi-parameter models SPWG considered several multi-parameter models without reaching unanimous acceptance.without reaching unanimous acceptance.

► Lengthy discussions and no consensus.Lengthy discussions and no consensus.► There are more responsibilities than rewardsThere are more responsibilities than rewards► Korea stated that EAHC reached consensus on Korea stated that EAHC reached consensus on

Tonnage.Tonnage.

Hydrographic InterestsHydrographic Interests

► The majority of SPWG agreed to keep Tonnage as a The majority of SPWG agreed to keep Tonnage as a starting pointstarting point

► The concept of Hydrographic Interests is not The concept of Hydrographic Interests is not specified in the Convention and can be revisited by specified in the Convention and can be revisited by the IHO at any time.the IHO at any time.

► On-going discussions should consider the following On-going discussions should consider the following possibilities:possibilities:

- - Establishment of a multi-parameter model.Establishment of a multi-parameter model.- - Reduce the model to two parameters, possibly Reduce the model to two parameters, possibly

tonnage and charts.tonnage and charts.- - Establish a “make your case” model which would Establish a “make your case” model which would

lead to a vote by the Assembly to select the 10 lead to a vote by the Assembly to select the 10 countries occupying a seat in the Council under the countries occupying a seat in the Council under the one third of “Hydrographic Interest”. one third of “Hydrographic Interest”.

Hydrographic InterestsHydrographic Interests

► The SPWG agreed :The SPWG agreed :

1.1. To report to the 17th Conference that To report to the 17th Conference that Tonnage seems to be the parameter to Tonnage seems to be the parameter to allocate Council seats for Hydrographic allocate Council seats for Hydrographic Interest for the time being and that no Interest for the time being and that no alternative model has been found.alternative model has been found.

2.2. That when the new structure is That when the new structure is implemented, experience will be gained implemented, experience will be gained and the subject may be revisited if needed.and the subject may be revisited if needed.

Other topicsOther topics

► IHO Working programIHO Working program►Strategic PlanStrategic Plan►Performance indicators: Performance indicators: SPWG SPWG

concluded that there was not a strong concluded that there was not a strong justification to propose to the justification to propose to the Conference the introduction of such Conference the introduction of such Performance Indicators Performance Indicators

Future of the SPWGFuture of the SPWG

►The Chairman noted that there were The Chairman noted that there were no new tasks identified that justify the no new tasks identified that justify the continuation of the SPWG.continuation of the SPWG.

►He added that the scheduling of an He added that the scheduling of an Extraordinary Conference in 2009 Extraordinary Conference in 2009 made the maintenance of the SPWG made the maintenance of the SPWG superfluous and that this was to be superfluous and that this was to be confirmed by the 17th IH Conference. confirmed by the 17th IH Conference.