The Hydrographic Institute (IH) Conducts Technical Visit to São Tomé and Príncipe

As part of the International Hydrographic Organization's (IHO) capacity-building program, the Hydrographic Institute (IH) carried out a technical visit to São Tomé and Príncipe from March 9 to 15.

The objective of the visit was to provide guidance on the actions that São Tomé and Príncipe's authorities should take to establish a national hydrographic service. São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) is one of the few coastal countries that is not a member of the IHO. Consequently, a recommendation was also made for STP to join the organization.

The visit was coordinated with the Maritime and Port Institute (IMaP), which has been identified by the IHO as the focal point for STP, and was supported by the Embassy of Portugal and the Defense Cooperation (CDD). Meetings were held with the Minister of Defense and Internal Order, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development, the Minister of Environment, Youth, and Sustainable Tourism, and the Minister of Infrastructure and Natural Resources.

Visits were also made to the Coast Guard, the National Ports Company, the National Meteorology Institute, and local port facilities, including Ana Chaves Port and Neves Port. Additionally, a meeting was held with various representatives, including fishermen, maritime agents, pilots, shipowners, and the National Fuel and Oil Company.

The IH recommended the establishment of a national hydrographic service that would ensure the maintenance of maritime signaling, support search and rescue missions, disseminate maritime safety information, and conduct hydrographic surveys. Furthermore, this service should be capable of producing nautical charts and developing a geospatial data infrastructure to support decision-making in navigation safety, marine environment protection, the blue economy, climate change impact studies, and more. This is a medium-to-long-term objective that STP authorities should gradually implement to safeguard their sovereignty and fulfill the international commitments established by the ratification of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

Throughout the visit, several existing capabilities in STP were identified, including tide gauges and meteorological stations, as well as various sets of hydrographic data relevant for cartographic updates. The excellent operational condition of the lighthouses, maintained with the support of the CDD, was also confirmed. The need to enhance data and information sharing between STP entities and with the IH was emphasized to ensure the continuous updating of nautical charts.

On March 14, a presentation titled "The Importance of Hydrography for a Coastal State" was held at the Portuguese Cultural Center. At the end of the session, the IH delegation presented a set of recommendations, which will be detailed in a Mission Report to be submitted to the IHO.

It is worth highlighting the warm and enthusiastic reception the IH delegation received from all the contacted entities. A well-deserved thank you to the Portuguese Defense Cooperation in STP, the Defense Attaché, and the Embassy of Portugal for their support and guidance, which were essential in successfully achieving the objectives of this technical visit.