IHO REQUIREMENTS

Steve Shipman

Professional Assistant (Hydrography)

International Hydrographic Organisation
Monaco
 Safety of Navigation

1. Conduct surveys and publish charts

2. Publish tide-tables
3. Issue Maritime Safety Information

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 The Vertical Dimension 1
A datum level is required:
– Mean Sea Level?

 Hydrographers driven by safety of

navigation:
– Low water datum (Chart Datum)

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 The Vertical Dimension 2
 The IHO has resolved (TR A2.5) that:
– Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) should
normally be used for Chart Datum.
LAT is defined as the lowest tide level which can be predicted to occur
under average meteorological conditions and under any combination of
astronomical conditions. It is recommended that LAT be calculated either
over a minimum period of 19 years using harmonic constants derived from
a minimum of one year’s observations or by other proven methods known
to give reliable results. Tide levels should, if feasible, reflect the estimated
error values obtained during the determination of these levels

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 Chart Datum / LAT

255

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 The Vertical Dimension 3
 Safety of Navigation also requires that there
is a High Water Datum
– Clearance heights of bridges and power cables
are referenced to this High Water Datum
– The IHO has resolved that Highest
Astronomical Tide (HAT) should be used
– HAT has a similar definition to LAT
– Relevant for flood evaluation
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 High Water Datum

21 35

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 Variation in Datum 1
 MSL
– a relatively small / slow variation both spatially
and temporally

 LAT and HAT

– Significant spatial variation
– Also temporal variation in time of high / low
water across medium to small scale charts
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 Variation in Datum 2
 Reasons for the variation in the range of
tide include:
– Seabed topography
– Water body resonance
– Coriolis

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 Spring Tidal Ranges

Range = 3.7m

Range = 12.2m

Range = 4.7m

Range = 10.7m
Range = 0.9m

Gibraltar

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 Variation in Datum 3

 Datum will vary across all but large scale

charts

 Need to model this variation in datum

– The co-tidal chart or model

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 Variation in Datum 4
 The Co-tidal model usually describes:
– Variation in range of tide
– Variation in time of tide
 The model may need to allow for:
– Variation between High and Low water
– Variation with the Spring / Neap cycle

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 Requirements
 Data to populate the co-tidal model

– Density relative to variation

– A lack of offshore data

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 Tidal Data
 Publication S-44
“IHO Standards for Hydrographic Surveys’

– Tidal heights should be observed so that the total

measurement error at the tide gauge, including
timing error, does not exceed +/- 5 cm at 95% for
Special Order surveys. For other surveys +/- 10
cm should not be exceeded.

– Special Order surveys :- Harbours, berthing areas,

and associated critical channels with minimum
under keel clearances

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 Charts
 Paper
 Raster Navigation Charts
 Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs)

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 Tides
 Predicted
 Real

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 Printed Tide-tables

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UKHO EasyTide Example

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 Predicted Tides
 Quality depends on data available for
analysis
 Publication S-44
“IHO Standards for Hydrographic Surveys”
– providing data for tidal analysis and subsequent
prediction, for which purposes the observations
should extend over the longest possible period
and not less than 29 days

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 Predicted v Real
 Predicted tides do not account for
Meteorological Factors.
 In critical situations real time tidal
information is required or at least
information on variation from predicted.

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 Tidal Warnings
 Issued as part of Maritime Safety
Information (MSI)
– Local and Regional Warnings
– Vessel Traffic Services
– Possible inclusion in AIS

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 Seamless Vertical Reference 1
 RTK GPS now allows the conduct of
hydrographic surveys without any
requirement to measure tides!

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 H
K

Tx

T
Spheroid
N
Chart Datum

D
S

Seabed

S=D+Tx-T S=K+D-H-N
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 Seamless Vertical Reference 2
 We have removed one ‘problem’ and
introduced a new one!
 No need to measure tides -
therefore no need for a co-tidal chart

x But we now need:

a spheroid – chart datum model

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 Seamless Vertical Reference 3
 There is a lot of work going on in the
geodetic community to determine a
seamless vertical reference
– A MSL / Geoidal surface would appear to be
preferred
– The maritime community might prefer an
ellipsoidal reference?

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 Seamless Vertical Reference 4
 The geodetic community want a model at
the sub-centimetre level

 The maritime community, in general, is

interested at the decimetre level although
there are always some special cases with
higher requirements

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 Conclusions 1
 More data collection for longer periods in
order to have better predictions
 Greater provision of real time tides /
variation from predicted particularly in
restricted areas
 Greater variety of delivery mechanisms
with integrity checking

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 Conclusions 2
 Increasingly integrated in VTS
 All referenced to a global vertical reference
 IALA are also developing a ‘Risk
Management Model’ for assessing amongst
other things the likelihood of groundings,
this requires a tidal statistical input

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 Conclusions 3
MUST NOT FORGET
The horizontal movement of the water mass
is also of great importance to Safety of
Navigation

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