Guyana officially welcomed as IHO member in Monaco
Although becoming the 90th member of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) on April 18, 2019, Guyana was formally welcomed into the family on Tuesday during the organisation’s 3rd Assembly gathering in Monaco.
The Golden Arrowhead was presented to the IHO Secretary General, Dr Jonas Mathias, in the presence of His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Guyana was represented at the Assembly by the Director General of the Maritime Administration Department Captain Stephen Thomas and the Director of Legal Services Thandi McAllister.
Headquartered in Monaco, the IHO is an intergovernmental organisation that works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans, and navigable waters are surveyed and charted.
MARAD Director General Captain Stephen Thomas presenting the Golden Arrowhead to the Secretary General of IHO, Dr Jonas Mathias
Established in 1921, it coordinates the activities of national hydrographic offices and promotes uniformity in nautical charts and documents as well as issues survey best practices, provides guidelines to maximise the use of hydrographic survey data, and develops hydrographic capabilities in member states.
The organisation’s week-long Assembly, which is held every three years, serves as an opportunity for all 98 member states and industry experts to exchange ideas, share knowledge and explore new technical standards in hydrography.
In addition to voting on a Secretary and Director, this year’s Assembly covered topics including the future of charts and the transition to digital data systems, thereby highlighting the IHO’s commitment to advancing the field of hydrography and mapping and its subsequent dedication to ensuring all member states are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to best fulfil their hydrographic duties.
Through these efforts, the IHO works with member countries to meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 which aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification.
Alongside Guyana, this IHO Assembly also formally welcomed new member states Albania, Angola, Bulgaria, Ghana, Iraq and the Solomon Islands.
