Maritime officials from Black and Caspian Seas States have completed the first workshop in the region on S-100 products, held in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan (3-5 December).
The workshop was co-organized by IMO in collaboration with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) to raise awareness about the development and implementation of the IHO’s S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model and related S-100 products.
S-100 is the modern standard for digital marine data, designed to improve how ships access and use navigational information. Used in systems such as ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System), it supports e-navigation by bringing together different types of data, such as depth, currents, tides and weather, into a single, interoperable framework. This helps seafarers make better-informed decisions and enhances safety at sea.
S-100 is a key component of IMO’s e-navigation strategy and will soon become mandatory for ships to use. Revised performance standards for ECDIS adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 106) in 2022 (resolution MSC.530(106)) and subsequently updated at in 2024 (MSC 108) have introduced the phased implementation of the S-100 framework, which will be required for all ECDIS equipment installed on or after 1 January 2029.
Eighteen government officials from maritime administrations and hydrographic offices attended the event from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Turkmenistan.
Participants shared updates on the status of the hydrographic, navigational and metrological services in their administrations. They discussed how to address the gaps between current capabilities and forthcoming requirements by supporting the production, dissemination, and management of S-100-compliant navigational data services and products.
Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of S-100 requirements, including the development of Electronic Navigational Data Services (ENDS), dissemination of dynamic information such as navigational warnings, weather warnings and route exchange, and the interoperability of data streams essential for ECDIS.
The workshop promotes regional cooperation and lays the groundwork for a harmonized compliance framework that supports the development and the implementation of the S-100 products amongst the Black and Caspian Seas littoral States.
