Major Cooperation, Coordination and International Activities Conducted During April-June 2026

Within the scope of the activities of the Turkish Naval Forces Office of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography (TN-ONHO) aimed at strengthening cooperation with national and international institutions, enhancing national maritime capabilities, coordinating the S-100 transition, and contributing to international hydrographic, oceanographic and military maritime activities, the following major activities were conducted during the April-June 2026 period:

1.          Within the scope of cooperation and S-100 transition activities,

Rear Admiral Prof. Dr. Fatih ERDEN, Head of TN-ONHO, visited Mr. Mustafa BANKAOĞLU, Director General of Coastal Safety, on 15 April 2026. During the meeting, views were exchanged on ongoing activities related to the S-100 transition.

The 4th Meeting of the S-100 Working Group was held at TN-ONHO on 27 April 2026 with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries, public institutions and the Turkish Naval Forces. The meeting focused on national coordination concerning the implementation of the new generation of S-100-based maritime products and services.

As part of the efforts aimed at developing national S-100-compliant electronic navigational chart software, a delegation headed by the Director of TN-ONHO, Rear Admiral (LH) Prof. Dr. Fatih ERDEN, paid visits to HAVELSAN and STM on 29 April 2026, to the General Directorate of Mapping and PiriReis Bilişim on 13 May 2026, and to the General Directorate of Geographic Information Systems of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change on 10 June 2026; during which technical coordination matters were discussed.

2.          Within the scope of national coordination and marine research activities,

The 2026 Ordinary Meeting of the Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography Services Planning and Coordination Board, coordinated by TN-ONHO, was held in İzmir on 11-12 May 2026 and hosted by Dokuz Eylül University. The meeting brought together representatives of public institutions, universities and research organizations active in the fields of marine sciences, hydrography, oceanography and marine research. The agenda covered national marine research activities, operational oceanography, hydrographic surveying, marine data infrastructures, marine pollution monitoring, the National Marine Research Programme, maritime spatial planning, and international maritime and oceanographic activities.

Rear Admiral Prof. Dr. Fatih ERDEN, in his capacity as Chairman of the Turkish National Oceanography Committee, participated in the 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting of the Turkish National Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, hosted by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration in Ankara on 3 June 2026.

The Certificate of the 2026 Board Distinguished Service Award was presented to Prof. Dr. Burcu ÖZSOY, Director of the TÜBİTAK Polar Research Institute, at TN-ONHO on 12 June 2026.

3.          Within the scope of International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) activities,

Türkiye participated in the 4th Session of the IHO Assembly (Assembly-4), held in Monaco from 19 to 23 April 2026, with a delegation headed by Rear Admiral (UH) Mehmet Emre SEZENLER, Head of Operations of the Turkish Naval Forces. The delegation included Rear Admiral (LH) Prof. Dr. Fatih ERDEN, Head of TN-ONHO; Captain Burak İNAN, Deputy Head of TN-ONHO; and Major Dr. Süleyman Cihan GÜRBÜZ, Head of the Chart Production Branch.

A delegation headed by Rear Admiral Prof. Dr. Fatih ERDEN participated in the 18th Meeting of the IHO Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC-18), held in Lima, Peru, from 17 to 19 June 2026. The meeting addressed the S-100 transition, Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), digital hydrographic services, seabed mapping and international hydrographic activities.

Within the scope of IRCC-18, meetings were conducted with senior representatives of the Peruvian Navy, the Directorate General of Harbour Master Offices and Coast Guard of Peru, and the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of Peru. Opportunities for cooperation in Antarctic activities and polar hydrography were discussed with the Head of the Chilean Hydrographic Office. Bilateral meetings were also conducted with senior IHO representatives, representatives of the Brazilian and Spanish Hydrographic Offices, and representatives of the international Electronic Navigational Chart distribution network. During the meeting, Türkiye shared its views and experience concerning international hydrographic activities, nautical charting, the S-100 transition and regional coordination.

4.          Within the scope of NATO activities,

The 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the NATO Maritime Geospatial, Meteorological and Oceanographic Centre of Excellence (MGEOMETOC COE) was held on 5 May 2026 and hosted by the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute. Rear Admiral Prof. Dr. Fatih ERDEN participated in the meeting and held engagements with the Director General of the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute and the Director of the MGEOMETOC COE. The meeting addressed the enhancement of NATO capabilities in maritime geospatial information, military meteorology and military oceanography, as well as technical cooperation and coordination among Allied nations.

5.          Within the scope of outreach activities,

Within the scope of the “A Day with Mehmetçik” Project, teachers and students from Beykoz Fevzi Çakmak Anatolian High School visited TN-ONHO on 4 May 2026. During the visit, information was provided on the Turkish Naval Forces, the National Defence University and the duties and responsibilities of TN-ONHO in the fields of navigation, hydrography, oceanography and nautical charting. The students were also introduced to nautical chart production activities at the museum and printing facilities.