Organizational and Legal Aspects of International Hydrographic Activity/Organizacijski i pravni aspekti meðunarodne hidrografske djelatnosti

Hydrographic activity has a strong international character. Products of hydrographic organizations are used for different purposes in the maritime industry, which is international in its very nature. That is the reason why it has been necessary on the international level to develop legislation that would give the industry an international character and frame. International conventions that regulate hydrographic activity are the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization. National regulations have great significance for the development of hydrographic activities. Although they are part of national law, such regulations indicate acceptance of the standards of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and compatibility of products of national hydrographic organizations with accepted international standards. This paper analyses the international conventions which regulate hydrographic activity. It provides an overview of national legislation of important legal systems and Republic of Croatia concerning hydrographic activity. Changes to the Convention on International Hydrographic Organization are proposed.