The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Society's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The objects of the Federation are to promote the free exchange of information between all those engaged in the science of surveying at sea and related sciences. The Federation acts as an international voice for the hydrography community and its professional individuals and fosters the establishment and growth of new national societies.
The objectives of this charitable company are met by:
the publication of technical Special Publications, collections of papers and proceedings, IFHS News, other relevant information including web-based services and social media.
the organisation of specialist seminars and technical workshops and providing opportunities for interaction and exchange of information through international symposia, including the 'Hydro' conference series.
promoting improved education and training for those engaged in or intending to engage in hydrography through the distribution of information, and educational awards.
promoting the recognition of individual professional path through a multinational accreditation scheme (HPAS).
The national societies provide similar services of relevance to their individual members.
The trustees (who are also directors of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies for the purposes of company law) have given due consideration to the Charity Commission's published guidance on Public Benefit as required by the Charities Act 2011 and the above activities are believed to fulfil the Public Benefit requirements of the Federation.
Strategic decisions affecting the Federation are made by the Executive Committee (also named Board of Directors) through their representation of National Society Members. The Board is composed of representative members from the full member Societies. There are currently no Affiliate Members registered.
During the 2024-2025 year, IFHS continued to expand and promote its professional accreditation scheme (HPAS), building upon the recognition granted by the IBSC in 2022 and increased activity in the previous year. Focused communications were maintained to highlight the benefits of professional pathways and generate interest in the scheme. Support tools such as webinars and an interactive application tool were continued and further promoted, with the October 31, 2024 intake receiving 11 applications and the early 2025 webinar had around 90 registrations.
Several new HPAS Panel members were approved to ensure representativeness and effective succession planning, including new members from DHyG, HSB, THS-UKI and AFHy.
The Federation also made significant strides in its Education Strategy, which was a key focus during the period. Plans for developing a shared IFHS Education Strategy, initiated in the prior year, progressed with detailed discussions in May 2024 and a dedicated meeting in Rostock in November 2024, with a view to creating a dedicated HPAS Education & Engagement Working Group to support and action initiatives to attract younger professionals to join IFHS Member Societies, among other key strategies.
Following the Hydro24 board meeting, a White Paper was drafted to provide IFHS proposals to the IBSC consultation on its standards review, focusing on outcomes-based education and curriculum modernisation. The overarching goal is a fundamental revision of standards by 2026 to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
Efforts were also made to ensure all Societies appointed an educational contact and a SWOT analysis document was developed to capture identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the education strategy.
Plans and draft documents for a pilot phase of an IFHS Mentorship Scheme were held, with a proposal submitted to all Societies in March 2025, which was approved for a potential launch in Autumn 2025. This work would be overseen by the new Working Group.
The ‘Hydro’ conference series continued to be a vital platform for interaction and information exchange. DHyG successfully hosted Hydro 24 from 5-7 November 2024 in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany, an event that was well-attended and described as very successful and which made a profit. Insights from Hydro 24 were planned to be shared for future events. Planning for Hydro 25 was underway, to be hosted by THS-UKI in Liverpool, UK, from 28-30 October 2025, was well underway. The Board initiated a review of Hydro event guidelines, with most recent hosts (IHS and DHyG) tasked with providing initial feedback for updates.
Membership recruitment and engagement remained a priority. The current subscription fee structure was maintained at £12 per capita for the year. Further discussions on fee structure review were deferred until the new Vice Hon Treasurer could develop a detailed proposal.
Contact was maintained with the Canadian Hydrographic Society regarding the opportunity of joining as an affiliate member to potentially lower financial burden. Discussion also continued re the Australasian Society (AHS) to consider their return as a full Member after their withdrawal in 2018. Interest in IFHS membership was shown by contingents from Brazil and Portugal, with follow-up actions in progress. Initiatives to engage with Japanese and Korean Hydrographic Societies were planned, as South Korea used to be an IFHS member.
In terms of governance and appointments, David Vincentelli (AFHy) continued as Chair, and Thomas Dehling (DHyG) continued as Honorary Vice-Chair. Mark Schreiber (HSSA) stepped down as Honorary Treasurer and HSSA Representative at the AGM on 29 November 2024, remaining on the Board for a handover period. Eric Langlois (AFHy) continued as Vice Honorary Treasurer, acted as interim Treasurer, and subsequently confirmed as Treasurer to ensure continuity as Mark Schreiber had resigned. Andrew Watermeyer (HSSA President) formally succeeded Mark Schreiber as the HSSA representative on the Board at the AGM on 29 November 2024. Patrick Westfeld (DHyG) was introduced as the new Vice-Chair of DHyG, succeeding Jens Schneider on the IFHS Board. The Board extended the nomination deadline for a Vice-Treasurer role and Mark Beloeil-Smith was appointed Acting Vice Treasurer. Bertrand Lobo was included on the Board with a focus on education and attracting younger members.
The IFHS Student Awards continued to encourage academic excellence. The 2024 award was won by Julia Swedenklef (THS-UKI) for her remote presentation at Hydro24, with the Board noting the high calibre of candidates. Criteria for the award were updated to allow for a second prize for submissions of sufficiently high quality (published as a shorter scientific summary in IHR) and to adjust eligibility regarding degree completion dates, with a reminder that candidates may not submit the same thesis more than once.
International cooperation and outreach efforts were also undertaken. David Vincentelli attended the Geospatial World Forum in Rotterdam to raise awareness about the Federation. The IHS organised an event in Sicily to celebrate World Hydrographic Day on 21 June, using it as a platform to promote IFHS. Meetings were held with the THSOA and CHA (Canadian Hydrographic Association) to discuss international collaboration, resulting in actionable items such as event announcements, shared calendars, and logo banners on websites. David Vincentelli advocated for IFHS inclusion in IHO disaster response strategies, highlighting industry's capacity for rapid equipment deployment. The possibility of IFHS expert involvement in capacity-building workshops coordinated or co-delivered with IHO was suggested to attract new members to National Associations. Eric Langlois attended the IHO WENDWG meeting and identified opportunities to engage with Japanese and Korean Hydrographic Societies.
The net surplus for the year was £14,043 (2024: £2,626 deficit). There are accumulated funds brought forward of £90,947, thus leaving a balance of reserves of £104,990 to carry forward within the Federation. This consists of £70,413 unrestricted funds and £34,577 restricted funds.
Income from Hydro conferences during the year was £25,507 (2024: £6,353).
The policy of the charity is that unrestricted funds, which have not been designated for a specific purpose, should be maintained at a level equivalent to at least two times its annual operating costs - currently £25,000. This policy will allow the Federation a reasonable time frame in which to find additional funding, or wind up the charity, if the need should arise and also makes allowance for the occasional failure of a Hydro conference (run by member societies) to raise the expected funds for IFHS or a year in which a Hydro conference does not take place.
Under the memorandum and articles of association the charitable company has the power to make any investment which the trustees see fit.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Society is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The International Federation of Hydrographic Societies is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. The Federation's governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended by a special resolution dated 1 November 2004.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
National Society Directors are appointed by the relevant Societies in accordance with their own
constitutions.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (the Society) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Society are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Society’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Society as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
International Federation of Hydrographic Societies is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Senate Court, Southernhay Gardens, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1NT.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Society's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The Society is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Society has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Society. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Society has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are to provide assistance specifically for student hydrographic surveyors.
Income is recognised when the Society is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Income is deferred only when the charitable company has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period. Membership subscriptions relate to the period 1 October to 30 September, thus 50% of income receivable is deferred each year.
Interest is included when receivable by the Federation.
Income received in respect of advertising in publications, stands at exhibitions or similar income is recognised within incoming resources in the period in which the title is published, the exhibition takes place or on such other basis as is applicable to the income concerned.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Intangible assets comprise the creation of the Hydrographic Professional Accreditation Scheme (HPAS) documentation for courses designed to be of industry standard for those working in the hydrography field.
Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the Society reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Investments
Prizes
Accountancy
Bank charges
Miscellaneous
Registered office charge
Travel expenses
Subscriptions
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The deferred income represents 50% of subscriptions paid during the year in respect of future periods.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of charitable activities and investments which are not subject to specific conditions from these sources as to how they may be used.
Sufficient funds are held in an appropriate form to enable each fund to fulfil its objectives.