The International Hydrographic Organization is an intergovernmental consultative and technical organization that was established in 1921 to support safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment.

Ukraine joined the IHO in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated February 24, 1995 No. 143 "On Accession to the International Hydrographic Organization".

Ukraine is represented at the IHO by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and by the state institution "Derzhhydrography" as the national hydrographic service.

The objectives of the Organization are:

• The coordination of the activities of national hydrographic offices;
• The greatest possible uniformity in nautical charts and documents;
• The adoption of reliable and efficient methods of carrying out and exploiting hydrographic surveys;
• The development of the sciences in the field of hydrography and the techniques employed in descriptive oceanography;

To date, all hydrographic surveys and marine nautical charts and documents production, including international ones, are carried out by the “Derzhhydrography” and its affiliates in accordance with the current IHO standards.