Limits of Oceans and Seas

The publication serves as an international standard for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting and is also consulted by others involved in maritime activities.

It is authored by the organization's secretariat, the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB), and approved by IHO member states.

[1] The third edition's age is recognized as a growing technical problem, but the IHO member states have been unable to reach agreement on updates to the standard due to political conflicts arising out of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.

[2] In August 2002, it was resubmitted to IHO member states for approval, with the intention of distributing it in both print and digital formats.

However, voting was suspended the following month, pending agreement between South Korea and Japan regarding the international standard name of the sea called "Japan Sea" in the 1953 edition.