The 28th ordinary annual Meeting of the PRIMAR Advisory Committee (PAC) (more information about PRIMAR is given below) was held from 16 to 17 November 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held as a video conference, chaired by Croatia. Croatia was represented by the HHI director Vinka Kolić and assistant director Željko Bradarić.

The agenda of the two-day meeting focused on the strategic, technical, financial, and administrative issues of PRIMAR's work for the period since the 27th PAC meeting.

The thematic group of technical issues presented improvements in the existing PRIMAR services and functionalities available to its members. In particular, it analysed the progress made in the multiannual project (2018–2023) for capacity building and functionality regarding the transition to new generation of electronic navigational charts (ENC) according to the IHO standard S-101. It was concluded that the planned activities for 2021 were going according to schedule, and the identified risks were analysed and updated, especially those connected with the performance of planned activities under the current circumstances. The project activity plan and financial plan for 2022 were approved. Proposals for activities in three ongoing projects were adopted, as well as a new project proposal for the provision of hydrographic services according to the e-navigation concept developed by the International Maritime Organization. After presenting marketing activities and the financial position for 2021, the financial and marketing plans for 2022 were adopted.

Croatia successfully chaired the two-day work of the Committee and once again proved to be an active member, participating with proposals and discussions on all items of the comprehensive agenda.

About PRIMAR

PRIMAR is one of the world’s three regional ENC coordinating centres (RENC), operated in accordance with the WEND (Worldwide ENC Database) principles established by the IHO resolution. Organizationally, PRIMAR represents an intergovernmental multilateral cooperation of its full members (more about PRIMAR at www.primar.org).

PRIMAR’s principal aim is to ensure a harmonized quality level of ENCs from different producer nations and make them available to end users on ships and other onshore and onboard services on a 24/7 basis. PRIMAR is a non-profit organization, investing the proceeds from the sale of ENCs in the maintenance of existing and development of new services and functionalities. In the context of technological solutions and many services which it provides, PRIMAR has been recognized as a leading RENC.

Croatia, as a long-standing full member of PRIMAR (since 25 October 2005), besides using PRIMAR’s tools and services to ensure the highest quality of its ENCs (currently 263 ENC cells) and making them available to end users through PRIMAR, has actively participated in the work of PRIMAR’s bodies and working groups since the first day. Croatia hosted the meeting of the PAC twice, last in November 2014, and since 2020 has taken over the two-year PAC presidency.