1. South West Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SWPHC)
Report to IRCC 8 Abu Dhabi, UAE – May 2016
Commodore B.K. Brace Chair SWPHC Hydrographer of Australia

2. Commission Membership
Australia, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Kingdom of Tonga, United Kingdom, United States of America
Associate Members
Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands1, Vanuatu2
Intergovernmental Observer Organization
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Observers
New Caledonia
IHB Representative
President Robert Ward, Asst. Director Alberto Costa Neves
Notes
Solomon Islands has applied for IHO membership. (IHO CL 67/2015 dated 04 September 2015)
Vanuatu has applied for IHO membership. (IHO CL 32/2015 dated 14 April 2015)

3. Meetings, Working Groups and Actions
The 13th SWPHC Meeting held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on February 2015 was attended by more than 40 participants - representing all 8 Member States of the Commission, 6 Associate Members, Observer States, international/regional organizations, industry and the IHB.
Since the last SWPHC meeting, there have been a number of teleconference and correspondence activities to review the 5-year CB Work Plan and to consider CB bids.
The next meeting (on the 18 month cycle) will be held in Noumea, New Caledonia in November 2016 and will be preceded by a 2-day technical workshop.
Actions – refer to full report for status actions relevant to SWPHC

4. Capacity Building Activities
Activities completed since CBSC13:
IHO CB Activities (CBWP)
Vanuatu Technical Implementation Visit (2015 CBWP- A-01)
Kiribati Technical Implementation Visit (2015 CBWP- A-02)
Tides and Water Level Technical Workshop (2015 CBWP – P-06)
Non-IHO CB Activities
One SWPHC candidate, from Tonga, attended the Group Training Course on Hydrographic Survey (Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA))
One SWPHC candidate, from Fiji, attended the 7th Chart Project Course (7 September - 18 December 2015) at the UKHO (CL35/2015 refers
South West Pacific Regional Hydrography Programme (SWPRHP) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) New Zealand Aid Programme) – see the Activity Completion Report

5. Capacity Building Activities
Activities not yet completed and new or ongoing initiatives:
IHO CB Activities (CBWP)
A-01 – Technical Assessment & Advice – Samoa - LINZ lead
(Planned for August 2016)
A-03 – Technical Assessment & Advice – Tuvalu - UKHO lead
(Planned for July/August 2016)
P-08 – Technical Workshop for PICTs in Formulating and Implementing Strategic Development Plans for Hydrography - LINZ lead
(Planned for November 2016 – preceding SWPHC14 meeting)
P-14 – MSI Regional Workshop – LINZ Lead
Non-IHO CB Activities
MFAT New Zealand Aid Programme - Pacific Regional Navigation Initiative (PRNI) – a 5-year NZ$5M development activity that is focusing on navigation-related aspects of maritime safety – commenced in April 2015

6. Tropical Cyclone Winston: Fiji
Extensive damage was done by Tropical Cyclone WINSTON in February 2016, which included significant destruction of many villages and shore-based infrastructure.
In accordance with IHO Resolution 1/2005, as amended, on IHO Response to Disasters, the SWPHC offered various resources and support to Fiji.
While there was an initial activity to coordinate the various hydrographic responses, it became clear that apart from the urgent notification by the relevant authority (MSA Fiji and NAVAREA14 coordinator – NZ), the broader support of the SWPHC was not specifically required. The focus was on saving lives and on returning community life to as normal a state as possible.

7. Tropical Cyclone Winston: Fiji
The bulk of the initial response and assessment was provided by military forces, such as those provided by the Australian, New Zealand, French and Indian Forces.
UKHO, as Charting Authority, again reacted very quickly to assess the nature of the damage to Fiji’s maritime infrastructure, resulting in the report:
A preliminary Satellite Imagery Analysis of Navigation & Coastal Damage (Imagery available to 25th February 2016
The written report to IRCC8 includes an example of a coordinating

8. Actions required from IRCC
IRCC members are invited to:
note this report
note the high level of engagement and capacity building activity being undertaken in the SWPHC region
note the very good support provided to Fiji by SWPHC members and regional bodies following Tropical Cyclone Winston.
note the applications for IHO membership by Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.