Electronic Chart Committee (ECC)
Working Group 2: ENC Production and Distribution
CLICK HERE to see a chart showing the relationship of the Working Group 2: ENC Production and Distribution with the MACHC and the Gulf of Honduras project.
Google Earth application of ENCs in the MACHC region
(Note: To view this application you need to have Google Earth installed in your computer.)
Google Map application of ENCs in the MACHC region
The primary purpose of this Working group is to address the lack of ENCs covering major ports and shipping routes of the MACHC region, by promoting ENC production by national hydrographic offices and facilitating ENC distribution, thereby contributing to improved maritime and environmental safety.
As a result, through an agreement among the Members of the Commission, small-scale ENCs of the region depicted in the graphic are made available at no cost from this web site.
These ENCs are based on the small-scale INT charts of the region. But because ENCs are based on non-overlapping cells, the limits of the INT charts have been adjusted accordingly.
Other Working Group 2 objectives include the following tasks:
- Take inventory of ports and routes in the MACHC Region
- Identify ENC production responsibilities along the selected routes
- Prepare an action plan and milestones
- Recommend options for distribution of ENCs to the shipping market
- Recommend and, where appropriate, establish cooperative arrangements for ENC production, quality assurance and maintenance
- Address training needs
- Provide a report at each meeting of the ECC
Background:
- At its meeting of 5 November 2002, the Electronic Chart Committe (ECC) of the renamed MesoAmerican-Caribbean Hydrographic Commission (ex CGMHC) identified the need to both build up national capacity in hydrographic offices and to speed up ENC coverage of the region, particularly along major shipping routes.
- The ECC decided to form two Working groups to address these needs:
- Working Group 1 – Meso-American Pilot Area Working Group to improve capacity building of coastal state hydrographic offices within a designated pilot area.
- Working Group 2 – ENC Production and Distribution Working Group to improve ENC coverage of the entire region. (These Terms of Reference are for Working Group 2 only).
- Working Group 2 was tasked with taking forward the primary aims of the Electronic Chart Implementation Project, a major component of the Project.
Tasks:
- The Working Group will undertake the following tasks:
- Select and prioritize routes for ENC production using objective criteria (by March 2003)
- Identify ENC production responsibilities along the selected routes
- Prepare an action plan and milestones
- Recommend options for distribution of ENCs to the shipping market
- Recommend and, where appropriate, establish cooperative arrangements for ENC production, quality assurance and maintenance
- Provide a report to each meeting of the ECC
Membership:
- The Working Group will initially be chaired by a national representative of Mexico. The Chairman will be responsible for providing secretariat support to the Working Group.
- Membership is open to all members of the MACHC. Inaugural members are Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Trinidad, UK, US (NOAA) and Venezuela.
Procedures:
- All members of the Working group are expected and encouraged to participate fully in the work of the group.
- Members will seek to share experience and expertise whenever possible.
- The work of the Working Group shall mainly be carried out by correspondence, preferably by email.
- The Working Group shall generally meet in conjunction with meetings of the Electronic Chart Committee of the MACHC. The Chairman may call intercessional meetings as necessary or at the request of the majority of participants.
- Meetings shall generally be conducted in English, unless all the participants agree otherwise. Minutes shall be produced in English.
- Minutes shall be produced and distributed within 30 days of the end of each meeting.
- Amendments to these terms of reference can be made at any time but must be approved by the chairman of the Electronic Chart Committee.
