The flexible purchasing structure will increase individual AVCS coverage for the mariner and is part of our strategy of supporting the international mariner’s requirements for accessibility and ease of use.
MSS ENCs have previously been distributed through AVCS as a group in managed folios. In combination with other data provided by our international hydrographic partners in the regions, the MSS ENCs provide full comprehensive coverage of the Straits.
However the new agreement will allow customers to access individual ENCs for periods of six or 12 months, offering increased flexibility and the ability to match ENC coverage to operational patterns more accurately.
JHA official data is a significant component of AVCS coverage in the Far East which sees a high volume and diversity of shipping traffic that has to comply with Chapter V of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Regulations.
The JHA and the UKHO are members of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and this latest partnership builds on the initial partnership agreement reached in March 2006 which gave the UKHO rights to distribute Japanese and MSS ENCs.
Both of us share a combined focus on improving the safety of navigation at sea and this arrangement further supports the IHO resolution for the provision of adequate global ENC
coverage of the main international shipping routes by 2010.
Speaking on behalf of the UKHO, UK National Hydrographer Rear Admiral Ian Moncrieff said: “This extension to our existing Bilateral Arrangement with Japan Hydrographic Association underlines the spirit of co-operation between Hydrographic Offices in improving our offering to seagoers and particularly the collective commitment throughout the IHO to the aim of global ENC coverage.
“The UKHO will continue to make a contribution to this aim by working with hydrographic offices across the world to meet the growing demand for safe, compliant navigational data, delivered in an optimal format. Seagoers have a right to expect this from us”.