When any new data standard or regulation is announced, the question on many minds is how and when implementation will happen. A key challenge with S-100 is that there is no clear cut answer. S-100 products will be introduced gradually, in two phases. The purpose of this phased approach is to ensure that there is sufficient time to test and validate products for compliance with the standards.
Phase 1 will focus on products for route monitoring, whereas phase 2 will cover products for route planning. As phase 1 products are anticipated to begin implementation within the next few years, the focus of this report is on phase 1. These products, their scope, and targeted implementation are outlined below.
Figure 1. Phase 1 covers six product specifications that are designed to improve route monitoring.
The duel-fuel mode
It is important to note that there will be a crossover period between the adoption of S-101 (the product specification for ENCs) and the retirement of S-57. Eventually, all legacy S-57 products will be replaced with S-101. In the meantime, the IHO has introduced the concept of a ‘dual-fuel mode’ to enable systems to process data from both S-57 and S-101. This means that although there is a target of 2026 to introduce the IMO’s performance standard for S-101, it will not be mandatory by this point to use S-101 ENC data.
For example, some believe that S-104 will only be possible on S-101 ENCs and not S-57. Whereas other S-100 products like S-124 for Navigational Warnings could be displayed over S-57 ENCs in an S-100 ECDIS.
After the 1st of January, 2029, all newly constructed vessels will be required to use the S-100 standard for their ECDIS systems. The new S-100 ECDIS standard also applies to any new ECDIS installations, including retrofits on existing vessels. This means that even if an older ship is being fitted with a new ECDIS system after this date, it must comply with the S-100 standard. The current S-57 standard, which has been widely used for ECDIS, will no longer have a recognised performance standard after this date. Therefore, any new ECDIS installations will need to be S-100 compliant.
However, until all ships are operating with S-100-capable ECDIS, hydrographic offices will need to publish both S-57 and S-101 ENCs. The industry is likely to experience a lengthy transitional period whereby data for both S-57 and S-100 product specifications are in use. This means that data currently used with S-57 systems will still be compatible with the new S-100 ECDIS, ensuring that the transition to S-100 ECDIS should not result in loss of existing data functionality. This also means that if a customer buys their S-100 data from one country and their S-57 data from another, they will not face difficulties in loading and displaying this data in their ECDIS systems.
While S-100 offers significant benefits to the maritime industry, uncertainty around the exact timeline for the implementation of product specifications could be contributing to limited stakeholder engagement. While the data for the new products could be available as early as 2026, there is currently a lack of systems approved to display the data.
For further insight into the areas highlighted in this article, download our thought leadership report ‘New Waters’, created in partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office. Based on the findings of a comprehensive maritime research project, this report explores the five key steps to supporting the successful adoption of the International Hydrographic Organization’s (IHO) S-100 data framework.
