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Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

Next-Generation ECDIS: the S-100 Framework

The electronic charts we know today (S-57) have a technical expiry date: the new S-100 standard promises more information layers and richer data, but requires a planned, not improvised, transition.

ECDISS-100NCSR 13electronic charts

Operational Explanation

The NCSR sub-committee, at its 13th session (June 2026), finalised the draft guidance for introducing the new generation of ECDIS based on the S-100 standard, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) framework intended progressively to replace the current S-57 standard on which today's Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) are based. The S-100 framework introduces a more flexible, multi-layered data structure, capable of integrating not only nautical charts but also other digital nautical products (currents, tides, weather/sea information) into a single standardised data ecosystem.

NCSR 13 paved the way for draft MSC circulars on three related technical areas: S-100 data distribution, global IP connectivity between shore facilities and ships, and digital route exchange between ship and shore services. For the Company, the practical point is that the transition to S-100 will, over time, require hardware/software upgrades to existing ECDIS equipment and a new phase of training for navigating officers, similar to that already undergone for the current generation of ECDIS.

Regulatory Reference

NCSR 13 (June 2026): finalised the draft guidance for introducing the new generation of ECDIS based on the IHO's S-100 standard, progressively replacing the S-57 standard. Draft MSC circulars under development on data distribution, ship-shore IP connectivity and digital route exchange; no mandatory date yet fixed.

Scope of Application

Every ship fitted with ECDIS; future, progressive application, with the transition to be planned ahead of time once mandatory deadlines are defined.

Procedure / How to Complete It

  1. Monitor publication of the MSC circulars on S-100 data distribution, IP connectivity and digital route exchange, currently in draft following NCSR 13.
  2. Check with the on-board ECDIS equipment supplier on hardware/software upgrade plans towards S-100 compatibility, as they become available.
  3. Plan a future training phase for navigating officers on the new S-100 multi-layered data structure, distinct from current generic/type-specific ECDIS training.
  4. In the meantime, maintain full compliance with the S-57 standard currently in force, which remains the operational basis until the transition is complete.
  5. Follow the evolution of the IMO/IHO roadmap to understand the realistic timeline for the new standard becoming mandatory.

Practical Example

Example: a Company in the process of renewing its ECDIS fleet asks its supplier for confirmation of the upgrade roadmap towards S-100 compatibility, to avoid investing in equipment that will require early replacement relative to its expected service life.

Real Cases

Transitions between generations of digital charting standards are not new to the maritime industry: the move from paper charts to S-57 format ENCs required years of planning, investment in equipment and crew training; the transition to S-100 follows a similar logic, but with the stated aim of overcoming the structural limits of the S-57 format in integrating richer and more diverse nautical data.

Common Mistakes Mistake Library

MistakeConsequenceHow to avoid it
Investment in new ECDIS equipment planned without checking the supplier's S-100 compatibility roadmapRisk of equipment needing early replacement relative to its expected service lifeAlways check the S-100 compatibility roadmap before significant investment in new ECDIS equipment
Navigating officers' training considered already complete on the basis of current generic/type-specific ECDIS certification aloneUnpreparedness for the new multi-layered data structure once S-100 becomes operationalPlan ahead of time for a future training phase dedicated specifically to the S-100 transition

PSC Observations

PSC verification of ENC update status and ECDIS configuration remains, at this stage, focused on the S-57 standard currently in force; extension of verification to S-100 compatibility will follow publication of the MSC circulars and the fixing of any mandatory deadlines.

Operational Tips

Checklist

FAQ

What is the S-100 standard?
The new framework from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) intended progressively to replace the S-57 standard on which today's Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) are based, with a more flexible, multi-layered data structure.
From when will the new generation of S-100 ECDIS be mandatory?
A mandatory date has not yet been fixed: NCSR 13 (June 2026) finalised the draft guidance for introduction, with MSC circulars on specific technical aspects still under development.
Does the current S-57 standard become immediately obsolete?
No, it remains fully valid and operational as the basis for current ECDIS navigation until completion of a planned transition to S-100, the timing of which has not yet been fixed.
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Related Topics

ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System)Datum Shift and Chart Reference in ECDIS