Digitised Charts (Hansard, 3 November 1993)

§ Mr. Hanley

Responsibility for the subject in question is a matter for the Hydrographic Office Defence Support Agency under its chief executive, Rear Admiral J. A. L. Myres. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from J. A. L. Myres to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 29 October 1993:

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION—0820G You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he would make a statement on the preparation, investment and achievement in the Hydrographic Department's production of digitised charts, and what assessment has been made of the extent to which this work will enable the United Kingdom to compete successfully in the world markets for such charts. The Minister has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office, to reply directly to you. Vessels are required under international law to carry charts when at sea. It has been recognised for some time that the use of digital versions of the current paper charts in conjunction with ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems) has the potential to increase significantly the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine and littoral environment, and also to reduce vessels' running costs. However, to translate this concept into reality, it was recognised that it was first necessary to reach international agreement on a wide range of associated technical, organisational, financial and legal aspects. I am pleased to say the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (HO) has played, and continues to play, a major role in these international discussions and in the formulation of the resulting standards for the exchange of digital data which were formally endorsed and promulgated by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) at its 1992 Conference. At the same time, the HO's fully-costed and formally-endorsed 10 year information System Strategy aims both to maximise the use of digital data and digital techniques in order to increase the efficiency of its operation, and to meet existing and future requirements to supply digital as well as paper charts to our customers. I am glad to say that the implementation of this strategy is proceeding to timetable. Conscious of the requirements and needs of the emerging market for digital data and products, I can also detail two 292W initiatives which the HO is actively pursuing. The first of these is the Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS) in which we are collaborating with two British private sector companies. The enclosed press release provides details of the service which will be demonstrated for the first time in public next month at the Europort Exhibition. The second is the United Kingdom Coastal Zone Mapping Project (CZMP) which we are developing in collaboration with our sister Agency, Ordnance Survey. I am sure you will recall my invitation to you to attend a technical symposium in Westminster on 9 March 1993 at which we introduced the project to potential customers and sought their comments; sadly you were unable to attend. The CZMP seeks to provide the digital geographic template to allow the more effective management of the many aspects of the coastal zone, in line with the recommendations of the House of Commons Select Committee Report on the Environment (Coastal Zone Protection and Planning) under the chairmanship of Sir Hugh Rossi. The intention is, and I firmly believe the reality will be, that the HO's pre-eminent position in supplying paper charts to the international maritime community will be successfully carried forward into the digital era.