IH President of the 17th Plenary Meeting From the Hydrographic Commission Eastern Atlantic

The 17th plenary session of the Eastern Atlantic Hydrographic Commission of the International Hydrographic Organization (OHI) took place in Mindelo, Cape Verde, at the premises of the Maritime and Port Institute (IMP), on 28-30 September.

The Commission is composed of the Member States of the International Hydrographic Organization (OHI) bathed in the Eastern Atlantic, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal and Spain, and also associated with other coastal states of the region and external states with interest/responsibility in the region. In the case of Portugal, its representation in the commission is carried out by the Hydrographic Institute (HI).

Today the Commission's activities are of particular interest because many are associated with the Decade of the United Nations Oceans.

The main activities of the Commission are, monitor and improve the state of nautical information; improve the coverage of hydrographic surveys and nautical cartography; develop and implement international nautical charts and electronic cartography coverage schemes; increase awareness of the importance of hydrography in the region; promote state training; and share information and knowledge.

The meeting was chaired by the Director-General of the OH, since two years ago he was appointed President of the Commission, and next year, for reasons of statutory turnover, the presidency is taken over by France.

Organized by OHI, the meeting was preceded by a seminar on 26 and 27 September and dedicated to the theme: "Work with NAVAREA II and the Primary Cartographic Authorities".

In the region, Portugal is the Primary Cartographic Authority in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and Angola.