ADOPTION OF THE NEW PUBLICATION S-5B EDITION STANDARDS OF COMPETENCE FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYORS, CATEGORY B

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1 IHB File No. AB-4/S-5 CIRCULAR LETTER 90/ December 2015 ADOPTION OF THE NEW PUBLICATION S-5B EDITION STANDARDS OF COMPETENCE FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYORS, CATEGORY B Reference: IHO CL 53/2015 dated 16 July - IHO Publication S-5B - Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors, Category B - Request for Approval of New Publication Dear Hydrographer, 1. The Circular Letter in Reference requested the approval of the new Publication S-5B - Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors, Category B - Edition The Directing Committee would like to thank the following 46 Member States that replied to the Circular Letter: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and Uruguay. 2. All Member States supported the adoption of the new Publication S-5B. Ten Member States offered comments. These comments and the outcome of their review by the Chair of the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC) are provided in the Annex to this letter. 3. As of the date of issue of the Circular Letter in reference, there were 85 Member States of the IHO with three States suspended. Therefore, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article VI of the Convention on the IHO, the majority required for adoption of the new publication is 42. As a result, Edition of IHO Publication S-5B has been adopted and will enter into force on 1 January On behalf of the Directing Committee Yours sincerely, Mustafa IPTES Director Copy to: Chair, IBSC Annex: Member States comments to IHO CL 53/2015 and comments from the IBSC Chair

2 Annex to IHO CL 90/2015 MEMBER STATES COMMENTS TO IHO CL 53/2015 AND COMMENTS FROM THE IBSC CHAIR. ADOPTION OF EDITION OF IHO PUBLICATION S-5B: STANDARDS OF COMPETENCE FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYORS, CATEGORY B AUSTRALIA Thank you IBSC - a very good document. BRAZIL This Directorate approves the new IHO Publication S-5B, however we would like to stress that subjects related to the element E2.1 LIDAR should be limited to theory, such as principles, capabilities and limitations of the system. IBSC Chair: The element E2.1 is intended to raise the awareness of Category B programme students on the principles of LiDAR survey systems and how LiDAR data may complement coastal hydrographic survey data. Coverage of this item does not preclude the operation of LiDAR nor advanced processing techniques of LiDAR data. CHILE Element B5.3 Nautical charts Comment: It seems that this Element, in the context of this standard, refers mainly to Paper Nautical Charts. If that is the case, probably it is worth stating this. Nevertheless, we have noticed that there is no mention or reference at all to ENC in the S-5B text. We think that at least a "description" should be introduced as a learning outcome under this Element. Elements E2.1b Airborne LiDAR data products (says USE) E2.1c Terrestrial LiDAR (says USE) E2.2a Remotely sensed bathymetry (says DEMONSTRATE) E2.2b Shoreline delineation (says DESCRIBE) Comment: It seems that these four Elements should be examined to make them similar in the scope of their learning outcomes. If it is expected that the student should be able to "Use topographic and bathymetric LiDAR data to complement other spatial data" and "Use Terrestrial LiDAR data..", he/she should also be able also to" Use images and aerial photographs data to complement other spatial data". Probably it is worth re-examining the wording of these Elements. Element E4.3a Positioning fundamentals. Comment: It seems that the learning outcome to "Correct gyros using astronomic methods." deserves a re-examination. Firstly, it seems the subject should be called "Determine gyros' errors using astronomic methods". Secondly, Why only astronomic methods? Is there any particular reason? IBSC Chair: B5.3, as part of Basics, does not include use and reference to ENC. ENC are covered in the E6.3d item Deliverable under the learning outcome: Describe hydrographic deliverables and produce paper products as well as digital products in accordance with specifications and standards. E2.2b (shore delineation): Agree. This item will be modified as follows: Describe geometrical properties of images and use them to create a shoreline map from images and aerial photographs. E4.3: Correct gyros error incorporates the determination of gyros errors. This method has been kept to make the link with legacy positioning systems for which gyros are independent of attitude measurement. Most of modern IMU/INS are capable of autonomous North finding and self-alignment. Thus, to align with legacy practice, the use of astronomical methods has been kept in the Standards under this element. COLOMBIA Colombia will submit the programme "Technology in Hydrography of the Master Chief Petty Officers Naval School "ARC Barranquilla" for recognition by the IBSC in accordance with the S-5B

3 ECUADOR This Member State agrees with the options in cartography that this standard proposes. FRANCE France regrets that, as it is described in S-5B, Part "B.5 Nautical Science" apparently can be accomplished without any practical sea experience; this reservation was raised in SHOM s letter N 35 SHOM/DMI/NP of 13 May 2015 in reply to CL 31/2015 of 10 April IBSC Chair: The IBSC consider that the objective of learning outcomes as described in part B5 are to raise awareness on safety issues related to hydrographic operations. Part B5 also requires practical sea experience to use and deploy seabed instrument and towed equipment. The IBSC recommends that B5 items should be also if possible- covered by the Comprehensive Final Field Project, in teaching safety good practice in relation to these items ITALY Italy approves, even though we have had no feedback on the suggestions submitted last May, which we feel should be taken into account. Please find the above suggestions enclosed herewith: Element Content Learning outcomes B 1.2 (iii) outlines on series and integrals B 1.5 (ii) variance covariance propagation law observables variance covariances B 1.6 (ii) variance and covariance of B 4.1 Earth s structure and ocean shape B 5.5 E 4.1 E 4.2 E 7.2a Ocean basin E 7.2.b Magnetic surveys E 7.2c Seismic surveys Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes Lithological cycle and different types of rocks Sedimentary cycle Put item (iii) in the first position (i) and the others consequently (ii) Definitions of astronomical coordinates and time (vii) Examples of modern geodetic reference systems and frames Angle, distance and area distortion associated with map projections (i) Seafloor spreading, ocean basin structure and continental margin (ii) Seafloor dynamics as evidence of plate tectonics (i) Earth s magnetic field and anomalies (v) Principles of seismic stratigraphy Principles of internal structure, physical characters and dynamics of the Earth referring to ocean basin structure Ocean bottom as a multilayered structure composed of sediment deposits Identify and describe shape of the ocean, features of the seabed and coastal areas in order to describe ocean evolution and surface dynamics. General knowledge of Earth s magnetic fields and relevant uses Distinguish between noise, outliers and real seafloor features and sub-seafloor geometry

4 E 7.2.d Earth gravity field E 7.2e Seafloor feature E 7.2f Seabed nature Earth gravity field and its variations (i) The shape of the seafloor and sub-seafloor stratigraphic horizons (ii) Sedimentary processes and structures in marine and coastal environment (iii) Marine and coastal geomorphology (i) Seabed sampling methods and sediment sampling techniques such as grabs, corers, dredges (ii) Basic sediment types (iii) Geotechnical properties of seafloor sediments (iv) Different seabed characteristics Measuring of the gravity field Describe the major geomorphological structures and processes affecting coastal morphology and ocean bottom Explain the sedimentary process effects (erosion, transport and deposition) on seabed topography, with special reference to shallow waters. Survey data use for geo-hazard detection, seafloor stability monitoring, dredging/excavation operations and seabed mapping Explain the purpose of seabed sampling, detailing sampling equipment and how samples are stored and analyzed. Identify and recognize different types of seabed. Geoacoustic properties of the seabed Study seabed sediments as geotechnical properties using sediment samples and geophysical data IBSC Chair: The IBSC thanks Italy for its accurate review and proposition of modification of S-5B. Suggestions on items B1.2, B1.5, B.1.6, B4.1 (partially), B5.5 (Earth magnetic field is now the first item), E7.2b (partially) are agreed and S-5B first edition will be modified accordingly. Suggested modifications on items E4.2, E7.2a, E7.2c, E7.2d, E7.2e and E7.2f seems not relevant, as they are either already covered by other items of the S-5B, or not considered at Category B level. PORTUGAL The Portuguese Hydrographic Institute welcomes the revision of the standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors Category B. The program offered in this Institute is very much in line with the proposal. The structure of the course will be revised to be in accordance with this publication and will be ready for a new accreditation submission in 2016/2017. SAUDI ARABIA Existing recognitions must be continued till their approved validity period expires. IBSC Chair: S-5B will be in force by January Institutions should re-submit their programme after the six years regular period of recognition. UNITED KINGDOM The UK responded in May of 2015 to IHO CL 31 of 2015 with a series of comments in relation to the proposed S-5B document. With the latter now ready for adoption, the following are the final comments in regard to this, many of which remain extant. The syllabus outlined in the S-5B reflects modern survey industry developments with amends to the syllabus being well considered and there are no objections to any of these. The desire to separate the Cat A and Cat B courses (with the Cat B being more practically based) is understood but it is considered that the development of the experienced surveyor hinges on progression of survey skills which are best developed through life. Thus, the UK continues to consider that there remains a natural link for progression from Cat B to Cat A. The fact that the revised Cat A syllabus has yet to be made available makes it very difficult to entirely assess the LOs of the S-5B in this wider context. To this end, it is considered important that the Cat A syllabus retains sufficient

5 links with the Cat B syllabus to permit institutions to utilise skills and knowledge gained on the latter in progression towards the former. It is requested that this be taken into account in the drafting of the S-5A. Whilst the issue of course length has been much discussed in previous iteration of the S-5 document (most recently for the December 2014 Edition of the S-5, where the UK s view was made clear) and there is no desire to entirely revisit this subject, the removal of options merits a further comment. With the Cat B course now having a defined minimum length, removing options will potentially impact adversely on institutions which rely on such to target industry students. In particular, the UK s Royal Navy relies on the syllabus material previously contained in the military hydrography option. By defining a minimum course length, changing core syllabus items and removing options, institutions will potentially be harder-pressed to incorporate syllabus items from optional subjects. It is hoped that this fact will be borne in mind when such institutions submit their Cat B accreditation requests. In summary, the UK considers the link between the S-5A and S-5B to be of huge importance and, whilst accepting some necessary divergence due to the more developed skill-set required of the Cat A surveyor, would still wish to see these two programmes continue to support each other. With the draft of the S-5A still ongoing, it is hoped that this can be taken into account. IBSC Chair: As it has been previously stated by the IBSC, it is acknowledged that institutions offering Category A programmes with a clear continuation link with a Category B programme will still be able to include the time allocated to it when submitting a Category A programme.