Saudi Arabia Wraps Up 10th ROPME Hydrographic Commission Meeting in Jeddah

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Jeddah: Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA), successfully concluded the 10th Meeting of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Sea Area Hydrographic Commission (RSAHC10) on November 28. The three-day event brought together regional and international stakeholders to discuss advancements in hydrographic and marine geospatial initiatives.

Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in marine surveying, the meeting reaffirmed the Kingdom’s pivotal role in producing marine geospatial data, nautical charts, and promoting maritime safety to protect lives at sea. Under the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), Saudi Arabia also chairs the ROPME Hydrographic Commission, emphasizing its global contributions to hydrographic research and data management. The RSAHC comprises member states from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Iraq, Pakistan, and Iran, along with affiliates from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Key Outcomes of the Meeting: Eng. Saud Al-Ruwais, Chairman of the commission, reiterated the importance of collaboration among member states in areas such as updating nautical charts, publishing navigational tools, managing maritime safety information, and advancing marine geospatial infrastructure.

Major decisions included:

Iran’s Election as Vice Chair: Iran was appointed as Vice Chair of the ROPME Commission.

Saudi Arabia’s New Role: The Kingdom was designated as the regional ambassador for Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) initiatives, aligning with United Nations geospatial data goals.

Oman’s Coordination Efforts: Oman will lead the implementation of the S-100 marine data model under universal hydrographic standards. 

The event witnessed participation from the Director of the IHO, Luigi Sinapi, along with representatives from international organizations and global hydrographic firms, emphasizing its global significance in advancing marine geospatial efforts. Saudi Arabia’s successful hosting of the event underscores its commitment to fostering regional and international cooperation in hydrographic surveying and maritime safety.