U.S. Hydrographic Services Review Panel Federal Advisory Committee's Effort to Foster Participation and Collaboration
The Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) plays a crucial role in improving the nation's marine transportation system, marine commerce, and the Blue Economy. Established by the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 2002, this advisory panel serves as a bridge between NOAA and various stakeholders, including federal agencies, defense and national security, local and state government, academia, and the private community.
The HSRP's strategic focus is on enhancing nautical charting, ensuring safety of navigation, marine environmental protection, and promoting sustainable ocean use. This aligns with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) 2025 Work Programme and related hydrographic initiatives, which the HSRP supports through key recommendations and roles.
These roles include facilitating coordination among hydrographic stakeholders, raising awareness of the importance of hydrography, encouraging wider participation in international hydrographic organizations, and promoting advances in hydrographic survey technologies. The panel's advice is also focused on climate change and coastal resilience.
The HSRP, consisting of 15 voting members who serve as subject matter experts and four non-voting members, has provided over 300 recommendations to the NOAA Administrator since its inception. These recommendations cover a diverse and broad spectrum of critical and priority issues related to NOAA's navigation, positioning, and observations programs.
Some of the HSRP's issue papers delve deeper into specific topics. For instance, there are papers on Automation and Artificial Intelligence in NOAA's Post-disaster Products and Services (May 2020), Sea Level Rise (October 2019), Arctic (October 2019), and MGDI Blue Economy (May 2018), among others.
For those interested in staying updated on the HSRP's activities, you can sign up for email announcements for HSRP meetings by sending an email to Ms. Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis at [email protected]. You can also sign up for the NOOS blog by filling in your email in the box at the NOAA Office of Coast Survey's blog: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/updates/.
The HSRP's charter, legal statutes, and by-laws can be found at https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/charter-bylaws-hsia-statute.html and https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/charter/hsrp-charter-signed-8-28-19.pdf. The most recent HSRP recommendations and issue papers from the HSRP to NOAA are available at https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/recommendations.html.
In conclusion, the HSRP serves as a vital link between NOAA and its stakeholders, working tirelessly to improve hydrographic services and support safer, more efficient maritime commerce and economic activities, all while promoting a sustainable Blue Economy.
- The Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) collaborates with various sectors, including science, academia, and the private community, to advance ocean mapping and hydrographic survey for the safety of navigation and coastal zone management.
- The HSRP's focus on climate change and coastal resilience aligns with the International Hydrographic Organization's 2025 Work Programme, as well as other hydrographic initiatives, aiming to protect the marine environment and promote sustainable ocean use.
- The panel's role includes fostering cooperation among hydrographic stakeholders, advocating for the importance of hydrography, and encouraging advancements in environmental-science and technology for hydrographic survey.
- In addition to these efforts, the HSRP offers insight on various issues related to finance, business, and lifestyle, such as automation, artificial intelligence, sea level rise, and Arctic navigation.
- General-news outlets and interested individuals can stay informed about the HSRP's activities by subscribing to email announcements for HSRP meetings or the NOOS blog.
- The HSRP's charter, legal statutes, and by-laws, as well as its recent recommendations and issue papers, are available for review online to provide further insight into its role and activities.
