To mark the International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May, the Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia (HHI) proudly highlights the contribution of women to the advancement of hydrography, safety of navigation, and sustainable ocean management.
Their expertise, dedication, and vision are embedded across a wide spectrum of activities. This spans from hydrographic surveys, marine cartography, the production of official navigational charts and publications, and nautical and geological operations, through to GIS and geoportal development, international cooperation, quality control, as well as legal, financial, IT, graphic design, and administrative processes.
From field research aboard survey vessels to GIS analysis and the cartographic representation of navigational data, the female experts at the Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia actively participate in producing official navigational charts and publications and disseminating radio navigational warnings. Every day, they contribute to safer navigation, the protection of the Adriatic Sea, and the development of a modern hydrographic service.
As the national hydrographic office of the Republic of Croatia and a member of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the Institute conducts hydrographic activities of national interest and plays a vital role in providing information critical to the safety of navigation in the Adriatic. The Institute performs hydrographic and geodetic marine surveys, produces and maintains official paper and digital (ENC) navigational charts and publications, participates in oceanographic research, and ensures the timely distribution of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to protect lives, property at sea, and the marine environment.
Out of 73 employees at HHI, 29 are women, confirming the essential role of female experts across all areas of the Institute's work. We are particularly proud that the Institute is led by Director Vinka Kolić Bubić, who is successfully managing the Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia through her third consecutive mandate and represents the Republic of Croatia within the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) at the Assembly and Council of the IHO. In this capacity, she actively participates in the work of the Mediterranean and Black Seas Hydrographic Commission (MBSHC), as well as PRIMAR, one of the world’s leading regional ENC distribution centres and a key stakeholder in the implementation of the next-generation S-100 standards.
The role of HHI is particularly significant in the transition towards the S-100 framework – a new generation of digital hydrographic standards that form the foundation of future e-Navigation architecture and the interoperable exchange of maritime data. The implementation of S-100 products, such as S-101 Electronic Navigational Charts, S-102 Bathymetric Surface products, and other advanced digital services, marks the beginning of a new era of more precise, safer, and dynamic navigation. HHI actively participates in the preparation, testing, and development of these products, confirming its position as a modern, technologically advanced hydrographic institution aligned with the highest international standards.
By supporting the IHO’s global initiative, Empowering Women in Hydrography, HHI reinforces that knowledge, responsibility, and excellence know no gender barriers.
The specific importance of the Institute’s work is also reflected in its inter-departmental and international cooperation with the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Navy, harbour master’s offices, and other national and international bodies. Through these partnerships, HHI actively contributes to the development of international hydrographic standards and modern digital navigation systems.
We thank all our female colleagues for their hard work, knowledge, and vision, which continue to shape the safer seas of tomorrow.
The sea knows no boundaries — and neither do their achievements.