The Role of a Primary Charting Authority - NNHO

The Role of a Primary Charting Authority

EAtHC Seminar on Maritime Geospatial Knowledge, 15-16 October 2018

Presented by Cathy Tunks, Geographic Technical Manager, UKHO

Date formatted: 02/10/2018

Overview

•What is a Primary Charting Authority (PCA)

•Who are the EAtHC PCAs?

•Framework for the PCA

•What can a PCA do for you?

•What can you do for a PCA?

•Case Study - Soyo LNG Terminal, Angola

•Conclusions

What is a PCA?

• There is no internationally accepted definition of a Primary

Charting Authority

• However, functionally the term refers to the role that an

established hydrographic office, or charting authority can

fulfil for another nation that doesn’t publish its own charts

• The PCA often has an historic link with the other nation

• The functions provided by the PCA are based on the need of

the other nation

• These are often formalised by some kind of agreement, eg

Memorandum of Understanding or Bilateral Agreement

Who are the PCAs for the EAtHC region?

PCA Responsible for

France Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire,

Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea,

Mauritania, Senegal, Togo

Portugal Angola, Cabo Verde, Democratic Republic

of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, São Tome

and Principe

United Kingdom The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria,

Sierra Leone

Nautical chart or nautical publication is a special-purpose map or

book, or a specially compiled database from which such a map or book is derived, that is issued officially by or on the authority of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government institution and is designed to meet the requirements of marine navigation.* * Refer to appropriate resolutions and recommendations of the International Hydrographic Organization concerning the authority and responsibilities of coastal States in the provision of charting in accordance with regulation 9.

Framework for the PCA

SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 2 Definitions:

SOLAS Chapter V Regulations 9 and 4 require each coastal State to ensure that hydrographic and Maritime Safety Information (MSI) services are provided. This can best be achieved through the establishment of a national Hydrographic Service that provides the following services either directly, or through coordination with other providers: • Maritime Safety Information services, • Hydrographic Surveys, • Nautical Charts, • Other Nautical Documents, such as: Notices to Mariners, Sailing Directions, Lists of Lights and Tide Tables. Many States do not yet have the appropriate structures and organization in place to fulfil some or all of these international obligations themselves. For historical reasons, some countries (for example: France, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK and USA) have continued to undertake this role on behalf of ex-territories which are now independent or for countries where no hydrographic capability exists. However, even under these arrangements, each coastal State that is a signatory to SOLAS has the overarching responsibility to ensure than an appropriate service is being provided for its waters. This means that the coastal State must take some level of active involvement in the provision of hydrographic and MSI services.

Framework for the PCA

IHO Publication M2:

f. Where an international chart is desired which will cover waters of

a nation which is not a member of the IHO, the producer nation

will be agreed by the IHO Regional body concerned with

international charts. It is not necessary to seek the approval of

the non-member nation but consultation on other aspects of

charting its waters is recommended.

Framework for the PCA IHO Publication S4 A-203 PRODUCERS:

IHO Publication S11 Part A, Allocation of Producers:

3.11.5 Where a chart has been included in the INT scheme, but the national hydrographic office is unable to effect its production within an acceptable timescale, its production may be undertaken, with the agreement of the national hydrographic office concerned, by a potential Printer Nation.

B-611.7 NM originated by authorities concerning waters which are not their

national charting responsibility should not normally be acted upon without

obtaining corroboration from the national charting authority, if there is one.

In certain circumstances, another hydrographic office may act as the ‘primary’

charting authority, for example where:

• there is no national hydrographic office; or

• where the responsible national agency, which does not itself produce charts, has

agreed.

In such cases, NM issued by the primary charting hydrographic office in those

waters may be regarded as authoritative.

Framework for the PCA IHO Publication S4 B-611:

B-611.8 Information obtained from NC or NE produced by another national

hydrographic office for its own waters should be accepted (unless some anomaly is

apparent, which must be resolved by correspondence with the relevant hydrographic

office). Such charts should normally be examined for differences from existing charts

as follows:

• Charts published by the national or primary charting authority, and INT charts

published by the authorized producer nation, must be fully examined.

• In areas where there is no national or primary charting authority, all source charts

should be examined.

• Charts which are derived, in part, from another nation’s charts, should be examined

only within the area for which the producer has primary responsibility, plus any

international waters or where there are special circumstances (for example: there is

no defined boundary, nations alternate surveying responsibilities in a river estuary).

• Charts which are wholly derived from another nation’s charts should not normally be

examined, unless there is a requirement based on knowledge of the particular area

and of the source charts.


B-611.9 Reports from ships should not normally be accepted solely as the basis for

permanent chart updates without corroboration unless:

• they originate from recognised survey vessels, research ships or other

vessels/masters known to be reliable;

• they are reports of shoal depths, preferably accompanied by supporting evidence,

for example an unambiguous echo-sounder trace, for areas where it is unlikely that

corroboration can be obtained. The national or primary charting authority (see B-

611.7) for the area should be consulted before NM action is taken;

• they are the sole source of information in a remote area;

• they are of particular significance to navigation;

• the location is in an area where the level of information flow and lines of

communication are poor.


What does/can a PCA do for you?

• Assist in meeting SOLAS obligations for hydrographic

services

• Provide charting services

• Provide hydrographic surveying services

• Provide technical assistance and advice

• Advocate for support

However, the above is only possible with 2 way

Communication!

What you can do for a PCA?

• Assist in meeting SOLAS obligations for hydrographic

services by ….


Data Exchange – Bathymetric data, Bathymetric surveys

and supporting metadata


Data Exchange – Dredged and Maintained Areas


Data Exchange – Port Developments


Data Exchange – Aids to Navigation (AtoNs): Fixed and

floating navigational light, buoyage and fog signals.

Pilot services, VTS and port operations


Data Exchange – Sailing Directions (and updates), Tidal

Data,


Keep in touch …

• Emails

• Phone calls

• ftp exchange sites

• Letters

• Regular meetings

If you don’t tell us we often can’t do anything to help!

UKHO’s Harbour Masters’

Guide

Harbour Masters’ Guide to hydrographic

and maritime information exchange

• A collaboration between the UKHO

and the UK Harbour Masters’

Association

• Version 3 published in May 2016

• https://www.admiralty.co.uk/AdmiraltyDownloadMedia/

UKHO/UKHO_Harbour_Masters_Guide.pdf

Case Study: Soyo LNG Terminal, Angola

• Request for a new chart was received to cover the new LNG

terminal at Soyo

• The terminal was designed to handle 315m long, purpose

built, LNG carriers and was entering the final stages of

construction

• Included the creation of a 3 mile dredged channel

• Large turning basin

• Full navigational aids including oscillating directional lights

• Kwanda Shorebase, supporting deep-water drilling,

construction and production operations for the offshore gas

industry, is co-located


Existing chart GB658


Outline scheme for new chart GB659

Google Earth image, 18 September 2009


Data received – survey sheets and CAD files


Testing the chart before it was published

• Constant contact with the Angolan LNG Pilots and proof copies of the

new chart were provided

• Chart used on a simulator and we received the following feedback

“.. we have completed our first tranche of ship simulations and these

went very well. One of the outcomes of the exercises was that we have

an opportunity to abort an entry by turning a ship to port between buoys

2 and 4. We note from the new chart however that there are no

soundings in this area. Would you be able to include soundings for the

area?

• Chart then amended before publication

Feedback during the simulations was very positive, so please

congratulate your team on an excellent job…..”


GB659 and ENC GB500659

• The chart was available prior to the first ship entering

the new terminal

• Has had 2 further new editions since 2011 as UKHO

receive continuous updates

• GB659 is now INT 2513

PCA - POCs

Any urgent Maritime Safety Information (MSI)

concerning the region (NAVAREA warnings) must be

sent without delay to the NAVAREA II coordinator.

Also applicable coastal warnings for coastal States that do not

have the capacity to broadcast coastal warnings on their own.

[email protected]

or fax +33 298 221 665 (7/7 24/24)

Remind MSI

mailto:[email protected]

PCA - POCs

France • Hydrographic surveys data, harbor plans…

To : [email protected]

Copy : [email protected] & [email protected]

• Any other nautical information

To : [email protected]

Copy : [email protected] & [email protected]

Portugal • All information To : [email protected]

United Kingdom • All information To : [email protected]

NOT MSI

In case of doubt about the level of urgency of the information reported

[email protected]






















Conclusions

• A PCA can assist a nation in meeting SOLAS

obligations, but does not absolve the nation of

those obligations

• Determine what is needed and establish formal

arrangements through a bilateral to establish

accountability framework – review as necessary

• Use your PCA and engage with them actively

• A good PCA arrangement should reflect a

partnership

Questions?

The Role of a Primary Charting Authority - NNHO

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