A summary by Captain Nektarios Roditis HN - Head of HNHS QC Department

From 4 to 8 November 2024 HNHS hosted the S-57 to S-101 Conversion / Validation secondment with the administrative support of IC-ENC.

During that time, two foreign delegates, Mr. David Gustavo Fuentes Vásquez from Chile HO, and Mr. Jaime Enrique Corozo Olaya from Ecuador HO visited Athens, Greece and worked alongside HNHS staff.

The main tasks of this working week included the conversion of ENC cells from S-57 (v.3.1) to S-101 (v.1.2.0) on CARIS HPD software and the validation of the S-101 products using 7Cs Analyzer. The KHOA S-100 Viewer was also used as a means to visually inspect the final results. All S-101 ENC cells produced during the secondment will be sent to IC-ENC for validation and comments.  

An overview of the general schedule planned for the secondment week 4 to 8 November was presented by the members of the HNHS QC Team followed by a discussion with the two secondees which included the following:

- A brief presentation of the S-101 standard and the relevant IHO product specifications currently in effect.

- The scheming to be followed by HNHS.

- The CARIS HPD options available to handle the various problems related with the transition from an S-57 database to an S-101 database minding also the considerations linked with the requirement for a hybrid S-57 / S-101 ENC production for a significant period of time.

- The solution currently considered by HNHS as most suited with its particular needs.

CONCLUSION

The secondment proved to be an excellent opportunity for everyone involved to work together for a week, sharing experiences and practices from different HOs, as well as combining different perspectives into how the various ENC construction and database issues related with S-101 could be tackled in the future.

During the secondment and as a result of the collaboration between all participants, the HNHS workflow on S-101 ENC production was discussed and views were exchanged between the members of the HNHS QC Team and the two delegates.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

HNHS would like to thank:

- IC-ENC staff, for their administrative support and the validation of the cells produced during the secondment.

- CARIS, for providing the trial licenses necessary for this exercise.

- Most importantly, Mr. David Gustavo Fuentes Vásquez and Mr. Jaime Enrique Corozo Olaya for their participation, valuable contributions and overall presence at the HNHS during this working week.

Mr. Jaime Enrique Corozo Olaya, Instituto Oceanográfico y Antártico de la Armada, Ecuador writes:

The internship held in Greece, organized by IC-ENC and the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service (HNHS), focused on the creation and management of electronic navigation products using the S-101 standard, the latest innovation in electronic nautical chart (ENC) formats. This new format, which will replace the S-57, features enhanced features for navigation safety and user experience.

Throughout the internship, I was able to gain practical skills in converting and producing S-101 data, working extensively with CARIS software. The practical sessions allowed me to explore new techniques, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the S-101 standard. Furthermore, collaboration with other hydrographic offices, including representatives from Chile and Greece, fostered knowledge exchange, facilitating the understanding of global ENC production practices and standards.

The experience underlined the importance of the transition to the S-101 format, with the aim of improving the accuracy, readability and overall usability of nautical charts. In summary, this internship offered an invaluable opportunity to stay at the forefront of advances in electronic nautical charts and the knowledge gained, which will soon be applied to the Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute of the Navy (INOCAR).

Mr. David Gustavo Fuentes Vásquez, Hydrographic And Oceanographic Service Of The Chilean Navy, Chile writes:

My participation in the Athens workshop was both productive and enriching. We carried out several exercises on transforming cartography from S-57 to S-101, as well as the full process of cartography production and validation in S-101 using Caris HPD. The HNHS staff were very welcoming, and we shared insights into our workflow for producing nautical charts and discussed potential improvements to each of these processes.

In our office, we plan to implement improvements in the workflow for producing and updating electronic charts in S-101 format, incorporating the techniques and knowledge gained during my time at the HNHS.