1. Add Commission and date Sept 17, 2018
IHO Resolution 2/1997 as amended ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC COMMISSIONS (RHC)
Add Commission and date
Sept 17, 2018

2. History
IRCC-09, Action 30, tasked Brazil, Canada, USA and the IHO Secretariat to draft an update of IHO Resolution 2/1997 with the following action:
to review the IHO Resolution 2/1997 as amended, Establishment of Regional Hydrographic Commissions - and submit to the IRCC
This was completed and delivered to IRCC 10
Discussion at IRCC 10 identified the proposed changes were more than intended, but acknowledged the need for a more robust update
Action to submit two version, one to Council 2 (minimal textural changes), this was completed at IRCC 09 and has been submitted to Council 2
Action on RHC Chairs to discuss and comment on the robust Draft 2 on the Resolution for discussion at IRCC 11. Comments are due to IRCC by October 2018, with consolidated comments to all MS by end of year.

3. IHO General Regulations, Article 8
(a) Regional Hydrographic Commissions (hereinafter RHCs) are regional bodies, established by Member States and recognized by the Assembly to improve regional co-ordination, enhance exchange of information and foster training and technical assistance. (c) RHCs shall be established by an agreement of their members. (d) RHC membership may include full members and associate members, both willing to contribute to the objectives of the Organization in the region concerned.

4. IHO General Regulations, Article 8
(e) Full membership is reserved for Member States within the region. (f) Associate membership is available to: (i) other Members States; and (ii) States of the region who are not Member States. (g) Other States and international organizations active in the region concerned may be invited by the RHC to participate as observers.

5. General Changes to IHO Resolution 2/1997
Updated text to align with Convention (accomplished V1)
Implements participatory status (Members, Associates, Observers)
Recommends establishing leadership, tenure, and process to select
Defines role and responsibilities of leadership via separate document
Updates templates for national reports focusing on IHO strategic intent
Standard reporting of information for tracking by the IHO Secretariat
Overall Format modification to call out purpose of Resolution
Updated IHO Mission as defined within the new Convention
Defined the Objective, Intent and Role, of Regional Hydrographic Commissions within the IHO

6. General Introduction Section
Mission as defined in new Convention
Purpose and Intent of Resolution
“provide adequate and timely hydrographic data”
“ensure widest possible use”
“regional coordination as an essential factor”
”bring together Coastal States (CSs) within a region”
Emphasizes the core mission of national Hydrographic Offices
Establishes expectation of wide use of marine geospatial data
Defines the importance of RHC’s within the IHO; recognized by the Assembly
Identifies need for broad participation, including all “coastal states”

7. Format Changes
Updates to document
Description or effect of change
Editorial changes to reflect updates within the Convention
Use of “shall” scrutinized
“IHO Bureau” to “IHO Secretariat” and other similar updates
Changed where appropriate

8. Standard and Strategic
Intent of change/update
Reasoning
Establishes Leadership and defines roles and responsibilities
Recommends standard national report template
Table format for routine metrics (C- 55, P-5 etc)
Clear assignment of responsibility for meeting management and inter-sessional coordination.
Contains emphasis on strategic areas; production status, MSI, Capacity Building, MSDI etc.
Simplify data collection for Secretariat

9. Items of note Discussion or Comments from Members
Topics for consideration
Discussion or Comments from Members
Status of Member, Associate Member and Observer
Scrutinize the use of “shall”
Scrutinize the phrase “as part of the IHO”, convention language is “recognized”
Members – IHO MS within region
Associate Members – other nations
Observers - Others
If in disagreement, pls comment
This phrase originates in the prior version of the Resolution. New Convention ”recognizes” and increases the importance of RHC’s
RHC as strategic partners
2/3 membership of IHO Council