Friday, October 26, 2007

Treaty Transmittal: Protocol of Amendments to the International Hydrographic Organization Convention

On Tuesday, October 23, 2007, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Protocol of Amendments to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization, done at Monaco on April 14, 2005. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 110-9) is here. The letter of transmittal states that the Protocol "will facilitate the reorganization of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The IHO, which is a technical and consultative international organization head-quartered in Monaco, facilitates safe and efficient maritime navigation throughout the world. It accomplishes these objectives by facilitating the coordination of the activities of national hydrographic offices, promoting uniformity in the nautical charts and documents generated by such offices, encouraging the adoption of reliable surveying methods, and fostering the development of the science of hydrography. Reorganization of the IHO will result in a more flexible, efficient, and visible organization."