August

It's been another busy month for IC-ENC, with new staff members, various international meetings and visits, Steering Committee preparations, and no let up on the data front. ​

​IC-ENC attended two Hydrographic Commissions this month​. James attended the Mediterranean and Black Sea Hydrographic Commission meeting (MBSHC), held in Batumi, Georgia from 29th June - 2nd July. It was a productive meeting with good discussions regarding ENHD and IC-ENC's combined efforts on ENC production in the Suez Canal, and ENC scheming in the general area.



Subsequently, Richard Fowle attended the South East Pacific Hydrographic Commission meeting (SEPHC), held in Guayaquil, Ecuador from 13th – 16th July. Richard updated the commission on IC-ENC's capacity building initiatives, including the IC-ENC International Validation training course, and also on IC-ENC's revised policy regarding overlapping data and areas of responsibility. Richard also spent some time discussing new ENC production plans with Ecuador.


​South East Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SEPHC 12) 13th - 16th July, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Dan Garratt, IC-ENC Data Validator, has recently gained promotion to IC-ENC Senior Data Validator following a successful interview. The main objectives of the IC-ENC Senior Data Validator role are to maintain the IC-ENC documentation which underpins the IC-ENC Production Support and ENC Validation services; carry out IC-ENC Production Support and Validation services when required; to achieve and maintain ISO9001 quality management certification for all IC-ENC operations across all IC-ENC offices; and to develop the culture of customer focus and continual improvement across the IC-ENC organisation.

This month, we also held a secondment for Gailen Helga Pietersen, an employee of the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO), from 6th – 10th July. Gailen spent her the first part of the week with Mike, IC-ENC Data Manager/IC-ENC Course Instructor, in order to familiarise her with IC-ENC's core services. Gailen then spent time with each member of the Validation team, who took her through the entire Validation process.

We were pleased to welcome Scott Drayton, our new IC-ENC Assistant Technical Manager, to the team on 20th July. Scott will be working in IC-ENC for a contracted period of 12 months to deliver improvements to IC-ENC services and information technology as defined in IC-ENC's Target Operating Model.

We were also delighted to welcome Dr. Mathias Jonas, IC-ENC Chairman and Hydrographer of the German Hydrographic Office (BSH), to IC-ENC HQ on Tuesday 28th July. Mathias spent the day discussing some of the agenda topics for the fast approaching Steering Committee16 meeting. In addition, Mathias was briefed on some of the ongoing projects within IC-ENC by individual members of the team.

Steering Committee 16 is approaching swiftly, and IC-ENC is currently working on the discussion papers for the meeting. All discussion papers will be circulated one month before the meeting takes place to allow delegates to familiarise themselves with the topics listed for discussion in the agenda. If you have not yet replied to your invitation, but you would like to attend, please send your travel form to me as soon as possible on laura.tyzack@ic-enc.org.

Shortly after Steering Committee 16, our third and final IC-ENC International Validation training course of 2015 will be taking place in Panama from 14th – 25th September. Mike, IC-ENC Course Instructor/IC-ENC Data Manager, is currently working hard to ensure all of the final arrangements for the course are under way for the 15 delegates who will be attending the training course in September.

Lastly, we are sad to inform you that Sidney Osborne has recently announced his retirement from his post at the South African Hydrographic Office (SANHO). We have been in correspondence with Sidney since IC-ENC was set up in 2002, with South Africa being one of IC-ENC's first members. Below are a few words from Sidney himself:

"IC-ENC and the South African Hydrographic Office have had a long and very fruitful relationship over the years, so I certainly will reflect warmly on the great times I've had with many of the IC-ENC members, past and present here in South Africa and abroad. Without singling out any members at IC-ENC, I would like to convey my best wishes to all who may remember me, and I hope they continue to enjoy their careers in the unique world of ENCs and IC-ENC. I am also that sure those who follow in my footsteps in the SANHO will also discover and experience first hand the good cordial manner in which IC-ENC provides the valuable service to its members".


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