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In March 2026, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) joined global partners at the Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART) to test how S-100 data performs in realistic navigation scenarios.
What happens when S-100 meets real-world navigation?
Bringing together hydrographic offices, pilots, captains, ports and technology providers, the initiative formed part of the IHO international testbed, designed to move S-100 from concept into operational understanding.
Rather than testing in isolation, stakeholders explored how multiple S-100 data layers work together in practice and what that means for navigation in complex, confined waters.
Body“We’ve been working with the Southampton pilots to simulate large cruise ships entering and exiting the port in different tidal and environmental conditions—helping us understand how S-100 performs in these more complex, confined waters.”
S-100 in the Port of Southampton
Among the four trial ports, Southampton provided a particularly valuable test case. Its approach combines:
- Strong and variable tidal streams
- Shallow, constrained channels
- High traffic density
- Tight manoeuvring margins at berth
This made Southampton an ideal environment to explore how S-100 supports decision-making under pressure, where timing, positioning and under-keel clearance are critical.
Image: S-101 ENC in the Solent with S-102 and S-111 visible.
What we tested
Using full mission bridge simulators, stakeholders assessed how multiple S-100 products perform together, including:
- S-101 Electronic Navigational Charts
- S-102 high resolution bathymetric surfaces
- S-104 water levels
- S-111 surface currents
These were tested alongside existing S-57 systems, allowing direct comparison between the data available in ENCs today and what comes next.
What we learned
These datasets are now available to support further development and testing via our S-100 sea trials data page.
1. A clearer picture of navigable water
One of the most consistent insights from the Southampton scenarios was how layered S-100 data changes the mariner’s understanding of available water space.
By combining bathymetry with dynamic water levels and currents, participants could see how navigable areas expand and contract over time, rather than relying on static depth contours.
Pilots noted that this improved visibility could support more informed manoeuvring decisions, including the ability to safely make wider turns or use available water more effectively.
2. Situational awareness improves but only when it's controlled
The trials reinforced the potential of S-100 to enhance situational awareness by bringing multiple data sources into a single view.
However, they also highlighted a key balance:
- More data can improve understanding
- But too much data can reduce clarity
Participants emphasised the importance of:
- Being able to toggle layers on and off
- Tailoring displays to the situation and user preference
- Maintaining a decluttered view of critical navigation tasks
- Training and familiarisation with new functionality
3. Familiarity matters: evolution not disruption
Despite the additional data, the transition from S-57 to S-100 was widely seen as manageable. Participants observed that:
- Core chart symbology remains familiar
- Improvements such as dynamic text placement and layering enhance usability
- Display in ECDIS feels like an evolution of existing systems, rather than a complete shift
4. Powerful planning information
A key shift identified during the trials was the potential to enhance the voyage planning process. With access to dynamic data such as water levels and currents, participants recognised that:
- S-100 enables more detailed planning before execution
- Decisions around timing and routing can be optimised earlier, with access to richer integrated data in a single view
- Monitoring remains essential, but S-100 enables more informed planning by bringing together multiple data sources that were previously separate
5. Data quality, consistency and trust are critical
Alongside the benefits, the trials surfaced important challenges that must be addressed. These include:
- Ensuring consistent data across borders and providers
- Managing differences between resolution and accuracy
- Providing clear metadata so users understand data reliability
- Aligning data from hydrographic offices and ports
Participants stressed that trust in S-100 will depend not just on availability, but on clarity around data quality and provenance.
6. The human factor cannot be overlooked
The introduction of richer, more dynamic data raises important questions around usability and training. Feedback highlighted:
- The need for clear, intuitive interfaces
- The risk of overloading less experienced users
- The importance of education alongside system development
As one pilot noted, the focus must remain on a simple question: "What do I need to see to navigate safely?"
The value of S-100 simulation and collaboration
A defining strength of the CSMART trials was the ability to bring the full maritime ecosystem together. Participants included: hydrographic offices, pilots and captains, port authorities and technology providers. This allowed:
- Real user feedback to be gathered in a controlled environment
- Direct comparison between systems and data sets
- Immediate discussion of challenges and solutions
Body“A particular scenario that stands out for me is one we tested in the Southampton channel. We simulated a vessel breaking down ahead of us, and using S-100 data, the vessel could safely manoeuvre around and continue its journey. Compared to S-57, the available space was much tighter—and probably not something that would have been attempted in a real-world situation.”
Simulator-based testing proved particularly valuable in enabling:
- Safe exploration of complex scenarios
- Iteration of data and display
- Early identification of usability issues
What this means for the industry
The CSMART trials represent an important step in moving S-100 from theory into practice. They show that:
- The benefits of layered, dynamic data are real and observable
- The transition will require careful design, training and collaboration
- Progress depends on shared learning across the industry
Most importantly, they reinforce that S-100 is not a single product, but a connected framework that relies on alignment between data producers, system developers and end users.
Looking ahead
The work at CSMART is part of an ongoing process. Insights from these trials will:
- Feed into IHO standards development
- Inform ECDIS design and usability improvements
- Support hydrographic offices in refining data prodcution
It also helps inform how the framework can be developed to meet the needs of mariners navigating in some of the most challenging environments. For the UKHO, ongoing participation in a variety of S-100 sea trials provides valuable evidence of how S-100 performs in real-world scenarios.
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