S-44 - Edition 6.1.0 - International Hydrographic Organization Standards for Hydrographic Surveys

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

S-44 specifies the standard applicable to hydrographic surveys, supporting safer navigation and improved knowledge and protection of the marine environment. It situates the survey standards within the International Hydrographic Organization publication framework and summarizes the historical development from the first edition in 1968 through later successive editions. The preface outlines the update process launched by IHO circular letters, establishing a project team and its goals to maintain continuity while adapting to evolving technologies and methods.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Introduction

Glossary

Chapter 1 Classification of Safety of Navigation Surveys

Chapter 2 Horizontal and Vertical Positioning

Chapter 3 Depth, Bathymetric Coverage, Features, and Nature of the Bottom

Chapter 4 Water Levels and Flow

Chapter 5 Surveys Above the Vertical Datum

Chapter 6 Metadata

Chapter 7 Tables and Specification Matrix

Annex A Specification Matrix Guidance

Annex B Guidelines for Quality Management

Annex C Guidance for A Priori and A Posteriori Quality Control

Annex D Gridded Bathymetry Considerations

S-44 Edition 6.1.0 International Hydrographic Organization Standards for Hydrographic Surveys Published by the International Hydrographic Organization 4b quai Antoine 1er Principauté de Monaco Tel: (377) [93.10.81.00](93.10.81.00) Fax: (377) [93.10.81.40](93.10.81.40)[ ](93.10.81.40)[info@iho.int](info@iho.int)[ ](info@iho.int)[www.iho.int](www.iho.int) | © Copyright International Hydrographic Organization 2020 | | --- | | This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted in accordance with the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886), and except in the circumstances described below, no part may be translated, reproduced by any process, adapted, communicated or commercially exploited without prior written permission from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) . Copyright in some of the material in this publication may be owned by another party and permission for the translation and/or reproduction of that material must be obtained from the owner. | | This document or partial material from this document may be translated, reproduced or distributed for general information, on no more than a cost recovery basis. Copies may not be sold or distributed for profit or gain without prior written agreement of the IHO and any other copyright holders. | | In the event that this document or partial material from this document is reproduced, translated or distributed under the terms described above, the following statements are to be included: | | “Material from IHO publication [reference to extract: Title, Edition] is reproduced with the permission of the Secretariat of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)(Permission No / ) acting for the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which does not accept responsibility for the correctness of the material as reproduced: in case of doubt, the IHO’s authentic text shall prevail. The incorporation of material sourced from IHO shall not be construed as constituting an endorsement by IHO of this product.” | | “This [document/publication] is a translation of IHO [document/publication] [name] . The IHO has not checked this translation and therefore takes no responsibility for its accuracy. In case of doubt the source version of [name] in [language] should be consulted.”
The IHO Logo or other identifiers shall not be used in any derived product without prior written permission from the IHO. | CONTENTS PREFACE ......................................................................................................................................... v [INTRODUCTION](INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................ vi)[................................................................................................................................ vi](INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................ vi) [GLOSSARY](GLOSSARY ...............................)[ ...............................](GLOSSARY ...............................)..................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 CLASSIFICATION OF SAFETY OF NAVIGATION SURVEYS............................................ 1 CHAPTER 2 HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL POSITIONING ................................................................ 3 CHAPTER 3 DEPTH, BATHYMETRIC COVERAGE, FEATURES, AND NATURE OF THE BOTTOM ....... 5 CHAPTER 4 WATER LEVELS AND FLOW ......................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 5 SURVEYS ABOVE THE VERTICAL DATUM .................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 6 METADATA................................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 7 TABLES AND SPECIFICATI

FAQs

What is the purpose of Publication S-44 for hydrographic surveys?

Publication S-44 defines the applicable standard for hydrographic surveys, intended to improve the safety of navigation and to support knowledge and protection of the marine environment.

When was the first edition of S-44 published, and how has it evolved?

The 1st edition of S-44 was published in January 1968. Successive editions followed (2nd in 1982, 3rd in 1987, 4th in 1998, and 5th in 2008) to keep the standard current and continuous.

How was the latest update organized within the International Hydrographic Organization?

By IHO circular letter CL 68/2016 (20 December 2016), a Hydrographic Surveys Project Team (HSPT) was established to update the standard, and CL 26/2017 further defined the team composition and goals.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

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