Hydrographic Activities for the Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Control in the Gulf of Honduras Project (supported by the MesoAmerican-Caribbean Regional Hydrographic Commission)

MACHC-Electronic Chart Committee

Goal: Demonstrate and facilitate the use of official electronic chart data for safe, efficient, and environmentally-sensitive maritime navigation. Objectives: –Facilitate the production and use of ENCs and RNCs –Improve hydrographic capacity of coastal states –Identify sources for acquiring equipment, software, and training –Speed up ENC production for key ports & major shipping routes –Establish data distribution service within MACHC region –Increase awareness of benefits of using EC data

MACHC-Electronic Chart Committee Chair: Katie Ries, USA (NOAA) Vice Chair: LCDR Rafael Ponce, Mexico (Navy) Two Task Groups: 1. MesoAmerican Capacity Building Pilot Project - Improve capacity building of coastal state hydrographic offices in a defined area - Initial focus: the IADB-administered, GEF-funded Gulf of Honduras Project 2. ENC Production and Distribution - Improve ENC coverage of the entire region in the short to medium term, production of ENC data by national hydrographic offices

Electronic Chart Committee Task Group 1 – MesoAmerican Capacity Building Pilot Project Task Group Members:GuatemalaHondurasBelizeMexicoNicaraguaPanamaUKUSA

Project Objective: To reverse the degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems within the Gulf of Honduras by enhancing the prevention and control from maritime transport- related pollution in the major ports and navigation lanes, improving navigational safety to avoid groundings and spills, and reducing land-based sources of pollution draining into the Gulf. Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Project

Component 1: Building regional capacity for maritime and land-based pollution control. Component 2: Building the information base for the Strategic Action Plan. base for the Strategic Action Plan. Component 3: Enhancing navigational safety in shipping lanes. Component 4: Improving environmental management and hazard reduction in network of five ports within the Gulf of Honduras

Component 3: Enhancing navigational safety in shipping lanes hydrographic Focuses on improving the hydrographic and oceanographic cooperation in the region to both prevent and prepare for groundings and spills in the Gulf related to marine transportation operations (references MACHC as project partner) Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Project

MACHC Involvement MACHC Involvement – – Making the case for Hydrography and its relationship to Project major objectives – – Regional hydrographic capacity analysis for Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis – – Active involvement in the Puerto Barrio, Belize City, and Tegucigalpa project preparation meetings – – Input in the Project’s final design

Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Project MACHC Involvement Commitment to develop and help execute the hydrographic implementation plan Commitment to develop and help execute the hydrographic implementation plan IHB visits to Central America carried out in to reinforce formation of national coordinating committees IHB visits to Central America carried out in to reinforce formation of national coordinating committees National Coordinating Committees in progress National Coordinating Committees in progress IHO Capacity Building Committee supported technical visits for hydrographic survey planning om 2005 IHO Capacity Building Committee supported technical visits for hydrographic survey planning om 2005

Current Status of GoH Project Project approved in 2005 by the Global Environment Facility and the Inter-American Development Bank Project approved in 2005 by the Global Environment Facility and the Inter-American Development Bank COCATRAM and CCAD are executing agencies COCATRAM and CCAD are executing agencies New Director hired for Project Coordinating Unit (Puerto Cortes, Honduras) New Director hired for Project Coordinating Unit (Puerto Cortes, Honduras) Project now operational Project now operational Executing Agencies/PCU Have Copy of 2006 Plan Executing Agencies/PCU Have Copy of 2006 Plan MACHC has leveraged US1 million in in-kind contributions to the Project so far! MACHC has leveraged US1 million in in-kind contributions to the Project so far!

Components of Hydrographic Activity Implementation Plan 1. Executive Summary 2. Action Plan 3. Budget

Hydrographic Implementation Plan Objectives Objective 1: Regional Planning and Coordination Objective 2: National Institutional Capacity Objective 3: Demonstration Projects Paper and Electronic Navigational Chart Production and Dissemination to the Mariner Paper and Electronic Navigational Chart Production and Dissemination to the Mariner Bringing Environmental Protection Awareness to the Mariner Bringing Environmental Protection Awareness to the Mariner Making ENC Data Available for the Gulf of Honduras Regional Geographic Information System Making ENC Data Available for the Gulf of Honduras Regional Geographic Information System

VISION: Gulf of Honduras Marine Highway and MBRS PSSA

Hydrographic Activity Implementation Plan Objective 3: Demonstration Projects Paper and Electronic Navigational Chart Production and Dissemination to the Mariner Updated paper charts and electronic navigation chart essential to improve navigation safety. Accuracy depends upon current hydrographic data, requiring new surveys. IHO/CBC: Technical Consultant for Survey Planning UKHO: Bilateral Agreements to update paper charts and produce Electronic Navigation Charts

Proposed Initial Survey and Chart Production Areas Belize Guatemala Honduras

Hydrographic Activity Implementation Plan Objective 3: Demonstration Projects -Bringing Environmental Protection Awareness to the Mariner Create environmental data layer to displayed in conjunction with ENCs, so that mariners are better able to protect the MBRS Based on Demonstration Project in the Florida Keys UKHO to produce three base (3) ENCs

Proposed ENCs to be produced as base for MBRS overlay

Hydrographic Activity Implementation Plan Objective 3: Demonstration Projects Making ENC Data Available for the Gulf of Honduras Regional Geographic Information System (GIS)Making ENC Data Available for the Gulf of Honduras Regional Geographic Information System (GIS) GoH Component 2: “build on existing MBRS Environmental Information System, develop a Data and Information Management Module for the GoH…includes transfer and incorporation of hydrographic and oceanographic data into the GIS”

Hydrographic Activity Implementation Plan Objective 3: Demonstration Projects -Making ENC Data Available for the Gulf of Honduras Regional Geographic Information System (GIS)-continued NOAA “Translator” will provide comprehensive access to the available ENC data in a variety of formats, allowing anyone—from students to coastal resource managers to view and use the data in GIS formats over the Internet.

Hydrographic Activity Implementation Plan Expected Outcomes National and regional mechanisms to provide up-to-date hydrographic products and services will be established. Hydrographic information will be linked to both navigation and environmental management needs. Innovative methods for reducing navigational risks will be successfully demonstrated. The outcomes will support the safe and sustainable development of the region’s maritime-based economy, while protecting the unique marine ecosystem of GOH.

Hydrography and other potential Gulf of Honduras Project Outcomes October 7, 2006 Seminar: “IMO Tools: Managing Ship Traffic to Ensure Environmentally Safe and Sound Navigation in the Gulf of Honduras” October 7, 2006 Seminar: “IMO Tools: Managing Ship Traffic to Ensure Environmentally Safe and Sound Navigation in the Gulf of Honduras” Co-Sponsored by MACHC and GoH Project Coordinating Unit Co-Sponsored by MACHC and GoH Project Coordinating Unit Explore PSSA, ship routing schemes, other measures for GoH (require sound hydrographic foundation) Explore PSSA, ship routing schemes, other measures for GoH (require sound hydrographic foundation) These measures also useful for other countries in the region to consider similar designations These measures also useful for other countries in the region to consider similar designations Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico have all called for establishment of a PSSA for the MBRS Project (July 2006) Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico have all called for establishment of a PSSA for the MBRS Project (July 2006)

ACUERDO DE RENOVACION DE LOS COMPROMISOS EN TORNO AL SISTEMA ARRECIFAL MESOAMERICANO EN EL MARCO DE LA DECLARACION DE TULUM Firmado por los Gobiernos de Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras July 11, 2006 Ciudad de Panama

Firmado por los Gobiernos de Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras July 11, 2006 Ciudad de Panama

Continued Support from the MACHC available Ongoing assistance in implementing the GoH Hydrographic Activities Plan to achieve Ongoing assistance in implementing the GoH Hydrographic Activities Plan to achieve GOH project objectives for all components GOH project objectives for all components Continued support for planning and communications. Continued support for planning and communications. Provide expert assistance with PSSA designation Provide expert assistance with PSSA designation Is the MACHC still a Project Partner? Is the MACHC still a Project Partner?