The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) will present findings from its year-long programme of S-100 trials at SMM 2026, marking a major milestone in the transition to the next generation of navigation standards. This will include early insights into the operational and safety benefits of S-100, alongside key learnings that will inform and support future implementation – see here for more information.

Since August 2025, the UKHO has worked alongside hydrographic offices, equipment manufacturers, ports, training providers and mariners to test S-100 data sets and systems. These trials have included live sea trials and simulator exercises, enabling S-100 to be evaluated within a wide range of operational contexts.

The programme’s most recent milestone was a fourth live sea trial aboard the Stena Vinga ferry, operating between Portsmouth and Jersey. Navigating a route with constrained waterways, strong tidal currents and heavy marine traffic, this trial provided an opportunity to assess how S-100 data standards perform in complex operational environments.

The trial also marked the first time all four ‘Phase 1’ S-100 data sets – S-101 (Electronic Navigational Charts), S-102 (bathymetry), S-104 (water levels) and S-111 (surface currents) – were trialled together in a live navigational scenario. This provided new insights into how the visualisation of multiple data layers influences situational awareness and navigational decision-making.

The live sea trials aboard the Stena Vinga have been complemented by a broader range of simulator trials conducted by the UKHO and international partners. These trials have brought together marine pilots and active seafarers from leading LNG and tanker fleets to provide operational insights in structured testing environments.

At SMM, the UKHO will be holding two panel discussions to share findings from its live and simulated S-100 trials. These sessions will feature insights from UKHO experts, alongside wider perspectives from Teledyne Raymarine Commercial, NorthStandard and SEALL ECDIS. The UKHO will also deliver an introductory S-100 seminar, designed to help attendees build a foundational understanding of the new data framework.

As the S-100 transition continues to progress, the UKHO will continue working with partners from across the industry to evaluate S-100 data sets and systems. This ongoing collaboration reflects the UKHO’s commitment to ensuring S-100 products meet the needs of users and support safe, efficient and compliant navigation.

Tom Mellor, Head of Technical Partnerships at the UKHO, said:

“Over the last 12 months, we have collected comprehensive feedback from bridge teams, technical partners, and other stakeholders from across the maritime industry, providing valuable insights into how S-100 performs in practice. These findings will play a vital role in helping us to ensure future S-100 products meet the real-world needs of mariners, while also feeding back insights to the wider hydrographic community.”.