Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

NIOHC -20 concluded successfully

July 16, 2021

The 20th meeting of the North Indian Ocean Hydrographic Commission (NIOHC-20) was conducted from 13 to 15 July, and curtains were brought down, marking the culmination of the event yesterday (July 15).

According to Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), the meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy and incumbent NIOHC Chair, Rear Admiral YN Jayarathne, at Naval Wing of the National Hydrographic Office, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

This virtual conference was discussed and promoted greater navigational safety in the Indian Ocean Region through common standards and procedures. The area of NIOHC covers the Northern part of the Indian Ocean from Andaman Seas to the Gulf of Aden, excluding the Gulf of Oman area, the SLN said.

Around 50 participants representing the Member States, Associate Members and Observer countries of NIOHC, relevant International Organizations and Industry stakeholders attended the three-day event, the SLN also said.

The North Indian Ocean Hydrographic Commission was established in 2002 as the 13th Regional Hydrographic Commission with Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and UK as initial members, with 03 Associate Member countries and 03 Observer countries.