The workshop aims to set up and strengthen collaboration among all developing countries interested in operational oceanography by discussing common scientific and infrastructure issues. The topics of the workshop include: 1. Demands, Current Services and Challenges 2. Capability Building 3. Ocean Observations 4. Modelling and Data Assimilation 5. Operational Forecast: from short-range to ENSO Operational oceanography is an emerging interdisplinary subject involving science, technology and applications of observing and forecasting oceans and seas. It is important for ocean and coastal communities in: 1. Safety and efficiency of maritime transport and marine operations; 2. Enabling the sustainable exploitation and management of ocean resources, such fisheries; 3. Supporting safe and efficient offshore energy related activities; 4. Mitigating the effects of environmental hazardss and pollution spills; 5. Contributing to ocean climate variability studies and seasonal-to-internannual climate prediction. Developing countries are often vulnerable to regional ocean hazards in marginal and coastal seas, while inadequate studies have been carried out in these areas in contrast with developed countries. This is mostly due to the lack of capacity in operational oceanography in developing countries and needs to be addressed. Some large developing countries such China, India, Brazil and South Africa have been building their own operational ocean forecasting systems in recent years along with their fast economy growth. As a result, the operational oceanography community in these developing countries is growing at a high rate. Therefore, it is time to create a dedicated forum for operational oceanographers from developing countries. This international workshop is sponsored by the CAS-TWAS-WMO Forum, and will be organized by the International Center for Climate and Environment Sciences(ICCES), Institute of Atmospheric Physics(IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS). For further information please vist the 12th-CAS-TWAS-WMO Forum website below.