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Electronic Chart Working Group Terms of Reference/SHARED Project

Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Hydrographic Commission August 30, 2001

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR

Caribbean – Gulf of Mexico SHARED Project

 

1.  BACKGROUND

The SHARED Project was initiated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) in December 1996, with the first demonstration, taking place in March 1997.  The Project’s goal was to demonstrate the use of integrated official Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs) and Raster Nautical Charts (RNCs) with the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).  Because of the success of the demonstration and subsequent trials in East Asia, the International Hydrographic Organization’s Caribbean Sea-Gulf of Mexico Hydrographic Commission at its fourth meeting in April 2000 in Kingston, Jamaica endorsed an extension of the SHARED Project into the Caribbean region.

2.  PURPOSE

 

The primary intent of this extension to the SHARED Project is to overcome the lack of official ENCs covering major shipping routes and ports of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico Region.  The main objective is to promote the production and use of official digital chart data, comprising ENCs, conforming to IHO Standard S57ed3 where available, and official raster charts conforming to IHO Standard S-61 elsewhere, covering the main shipping routes and ports for use onboard commercial ships.  Furthermore, it is intended to demonstrate the practical exchange of electronic hydrographic data between national Hydrographic Offices (HOs). 

 

3.  PARTICIPANTS

 

Participants for these Terms of Reference are HOs who produce ENCs (data conforming to Edition 3.0 or 3.1 of the IHO Transfer Standard for digital Hydrographic Data, Publication S-57) and/or RNCs (data conforming to the IHO Product Specification for Raster Navigational Charts S-61) and plan to participate in this project.   Further, participants are expected to contribute and be willing to:

 

·        Share data and other associated information

·        Share expertise and experience to the extent possible

·        Exchange data for quality control evaluation during production stages

·        Contribute to any Training to the extent possible

 

Additionally participants are expected to provide any updates where available.  If updates are not available, the data would be used for demonstration purposes only until updates are supplied. Additional participating HOs may join this project as their ENC production capability is developed.  A list of participants is provided by Annex A.

 

(It is recognized that there will be participants other than HOs, such as Shipping Companies, Manufacturers, Distributors, etc., that will be involved in the implementation of the plan, but will not be deemed to be Participants for these Terms of Reference.)

4. SCOPE

 

In general, the project will be guided by the Proposed Plan for Extending the Shared Demonstration to the Caribbean Sea-Gulf of Mexico, dated February 23, 2001 and discussed at the April 4, 2001 meeting of the Electronic Chart Working Group, CGMHC, in Miami Beach, Florida.  This document is attached as Annex B.  Some of the primary aspects of the project include:

• Promoting a dual fuel approach by progressing the availability of official data covering the main shipping routes and ports, making use of ENCs in S57ed3 where available and official raster charts elsewhere
• Providing guidance on implementation of standards. It will offer support and encouragement in the production of ENCs to the participating HOs. If required, the project will explore an assistance program.
• Demonstrating the use of CDs for the delivery of data and telecommunications for the delivery of updates
• Working with equipment manufacturers and shipping companies to identify both suitable SHARED demonstration routes and ships willing to participate in the demonstration
• Working with distributors to build the required delivery infrastructure. Distributors may be equipment manufacturers, HOs, shipping companies, portfolio management services and others
• Identifying ENC requirements, production priorities and responsibilities for the region, including confirmation of the limits of the areas of ENC production among participants
• Establishing a central catalogue of available official electronic charts in the region, and
• Making maximum use of lessons learned by PRIMAR

5. PROCEDURES

 

Meetings shall be conducted by the chairman, Electronic Chart Working Group of the Caribbean Sea-Gulf of Mexico Hydrographic Commission (CGMHC) and shall generally be held in conjunction with CGMHC meetings.  Alternatively, the Chairman can call intercessional meetings as considered necessary or at the request of a majority of participants.  A participating member shall normally provide meeting facilities.  Notification of meetings and an agenda with supporting materials will be distributed to participants and associated designated attendees at least 30 days in advance of a meeting.  The list of action items and decisions will be agreed by participants at the end of each meeting.

 

Decisions shall be determined by simple majority of those present, or if by correspondence, by the majority of replies received. 

 

Within 30 days after a meeting, the Chairman will promulgate minutes of meetings including details associated with the decisions and actions. 

 

Amendments to these terms of reference may be made at any time by concurrence of the participating members.

 

Meetings shall generally be conducted in English unless participants agree otherwise.  Minutes shall be produced in English

 

5.  TERMINATION

 

The Project shall exist until mutually terminated by agreement of the participating members.