UKHO extends licensing agreement in Japan

04 February 2009, 9:54am

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has a long standing and deeply mutual respectful relationship with the Japan Hydrographic Association (JHA) and has now developed its licensing agreement with the JHA to bring greater choice and flexibility to mariners transiting through the Malacca and Singapore Straits (MSS) through its flagship digital offering the Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS).

The UKHO currently has license to distribute MSS ENCs (Electronic Navigational Charts) through AVCS as a group and in managed Folios. In combination with other data provided by UKHO's international partner Hydrographic Offices in the regions, the MSS ENCs provide full comprehensive coverage of the Straits.
Under the new Agreement, customers will now also be able to access individual ENCs for periods of six or 12 months. This offers increased flexibility and the ability to match ENC coverage to operational patterns more accurately.

The flexible purchasing structure will increase individual AVCS coverage for the mariner and is part of the UKHO’s strategy of keeping in tune with the international mariner’s requirement s for accessibility and ease of use.

The UKHO and the JHA are both 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 organisations 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.

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 in respect of official and carriage compliant navigational charts and publications.
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”.

Mr Shinichi Kikuchi, Head of the International Affairs Office of the JHA, said: “I am delighted to announce this latest amendment to our current partnership which will bring flexible licensing to Mariners transiting through the Straits.”

UK Hydrographic Office

Geo: International