The UKHO partners with Shom to launch international S-100 sea trials programme

8 December 2025

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has launched an international sea trials programme in partnership with the French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (Shom). The joint programme represents the most comprehensive test of S-100 data standards to date and will form part of the International Hydrographic Organization’s (IHO) coordinated testbed framework.

Comprehensive S-100 sea trials underway

Throughout the trials, the UKHO and Shom will collect evidence to inform safety and efficiency use cases, while providing guidance on the introduction of the S-100 data framework, which is set to underpin the future of maritime navigation. These insights will play a key role in building global readiness and alignment on how S-100 data standards can be created and harmonised across international borders.

The programme will also bring together multiple ECDIS and portable pilot unit manufacturers, including Raymarine, Furuno, Navtor, OSI Maritime Systems, Seall ECDIS and SEAiq. This cross-industry collaboration will enable a detailed evaluation of the interoperability of S-100 data layers and help guide the development of next-generation S-100 display units.

During the trials, six interoperable S-100 data layers – Electronic Navigational Charts (S-101), bathymetric surface (S-102), water levels (S-104), surface currents (S-111), navigational warnings (S-124) and catalogue of nautical products (S-128) – will be used across multiple ECDIS units in live navigation scenarios.

These scenarios will involve a range of navigational end users, with dual-fuel ECDIS units, supporting both S-57 and S-100 data formats, being deployed aboard ferry, defence and commercial shipping vessels.

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“As the most comprehensive S-100 sea trials to date, this programme will provide valuable feedback on the production and implementation of S-100 data sets. Through direct engagement with end users and the wider hydrographic community, these trials will help us to ensure we are continuing to support the maritime sector as it prepares for the S-100 transition.”

Thomas Mellor

Head of Technical Partnerships, UKHO

S-100 sea trials international testbed overview

Maritime stakeholders unite for S-100 international testbed

Since August 2025, the UKHO has been working with Raymarine and DFDS to deploy an S-100 ECDIS aboard the Stena Vinga ferry for navigation from Portsmouth on the south coast of England, across the English Channel to St. Helier in Jersey. These initial trials are being supported by Portsmouth International Port and Ports of Jersey, who are providing new, high-fidelity bathymetric data to create S-100 data layers.

The international cross-border trial will follow a route from St. Helier to Saint-Malo, France, in early 2026. The route was selected due to its tidal constraints, cross-border waters and operational challenges, providing the ideal environment to test the capabilities of S-100 standards and coordination between partners. This includes evaluating how national hydrographic offices can successfully collaborate to compile and align comprehensive port and boundary data for conversion into S-100 data sets.

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"By working with the UKHO as part of the IHO’s coordinated testbed framework, the lessons learned from these trials will form a significant contribution to international S-100 readiness. To uphold the testbed’s principles of transparency and shared progress, we are committed to making these insights, and all trial data sets, widely accessible to organisations and professionals throughout the industry.”

Nathalie Leidinger

Head of Geospatial Services Program, Shom

Overall advance in S-100 industry knowledge

Each trial will contribute to the IHO’s efforts to validate data standards and address operational use cases across key maritime routes and partnerships. By directly engaging end users throughout the programme, the UKHO and Shom are working to ensure all S-100 guidance is grounded in real-world experience and that data and products are fit for purpose before wider release.

To enable the industry to learn from, evaluate and build on this work, all data collected during the trials will be shared with the maritime community. This will include feedback across several areas, including IHO standards, ECDIS usability and hydrographic office data. S-100 trial data sets will also be made publicly available by the UKHO and Shom to provide users with a preview of the S-100 data framework in operation.

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DFDS is proud to support the UKHO’s S-100 sea trials in collaboration with the crew of Stena Vinga on our Portsmouth–Jersey route. This new standard has the potential to optimise navigation, reduce fuel consumption, and provide a foundation for decision-making that incorporates area-specific biodiversity considerations. Enhanced data sets like S-100 can deliver tangible real-world benefits, and at DFDS we are proud to contribute to a partnership that drives sustainable progress across our industry.”

Sofie Lindegaard

Head of Group Sustainability, DFDS

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“Being at the forefront of innovation is core to Raymarine’s mission. These S-100 sea trials represent a critical stage in the development of maritime navigation, and we are proud to play a leading role in shaping that future. By actively contributing to the development and validation of S-100 standards, we are ensuring that end users benefit from systems designed to deliver unparalleled clarity and interoperability.”

Grégoire Outters

General Manager at Raymarine

More about S-100

To learn more about the S-100 data framework and how it could help improve the accessibility, compatibility and usability of hydrographic and marine data, visit our S-100 resource hub.

The UKHO will also be making S-100 testbed data available soon. Sign up to our S-100 updates to be the first to know when it is published.

Trial data sets covering the maritime area around Saint-Malo are available for exploration and evaluation on the Shom website via the button below.

Explore Shom data