Every year on 21 June, World Hydrography Day is celebrated to highlight the vital importance of hydrography in securing the safety of navigation, protecting the marine environment, sustainably managing marine spaces and resources, and fostering a deeper understanding of our seas and oceans.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has chosen the 2026 theme "Transforming how ocean data is shared", emphasising the critical role of modern standards and technologies in the efficient collection, processing, exchange, and use of maritime data.
This year’s theme focuses primarily on the implementation of the S-100 standard, the next generation of hydrographic data products and services, including S-101 Electronic Navigational Charts and S-102 Bathymetric Surfaces. The development and application of these standards represent a significant step forward in the digitalisation of maritime navigation, contributing to safer and more efficient navigation within international shipping. Furthermore, data sharing facilitates knowledge-based decision-making aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.
The Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia continuously monitors the development of international hydrographic standards and actively participates in the modernising of hydrographic products and services. Through hydrographic surveys, the production of official navigational charts and publications, data collection and processing, and the development of digital data services, the Institute contributes to the safety of navigation and the sustainable management of the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea.
A particularly significant role in the accessibility and exchange of marine spatial data is played by GeoAdriatic – the Croatian Marine Data Geoportal, which serves as the maritime component of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The portal enables users to view, search, and use an array of spatial data related to the sea and coastal areas, marking a major step towards a more open and interoperable sharing of maritime information in line with European and international standards.
By celebrating World Hydrography Day, we recall the crucial role that high-quality, reliable maritime data plays in navigational safety, marine environmental protection, the development of the blue economy, and data-driven decision-making. In an era of accelerated digital transformation, the effective exchange of data is becoming a cornerstone of sustainable marine spatial management on both a national and global scale.
We wish a very happy World Hydrography Day to all hydrographers, mariners, and professionals whose dedicated work contributes to a better understanding and safer use of our seas and oceans.
The link to GeoAdriatic – the Croatian Marine Data Geoportal is: