S-200 Product Specifications Test and validation tool

1.      Background

The development of S-100/200 has the potential to significantly change the way, Aids to Navigation information are processed, communicated, accessed, and utilized. In recent years, many countries have developed their own data format for maintenance purposes and the exchange of them with other authorities. However, with the benefit of it, IALA S-200 Product Specifications (PS) will bring a step change in the data model of marine aids to navigation.

This page summarises the potential implications of the format transformation from the national level to the international based on a preliminary exercise.

2.      Revision of ECDIS guidance

In November 2022, IMO adopted revised performance standards for ECDIS (resolution MSC.530(106), revised in May 2024 as MSC.530(106)/Rev.1). They introduce the new IHO data standards (S-98, S-100 and S-101), which may be used in ECDIS installed from 1 January 2026 and are required for ECDIS installed on or after 1 January 2029.

In this regard, it provides IALA with a time frame to develop the related product specifications, and the members to be prepared to produce the dataset conforms with the S-201 data format.  

3.      Gap analysis

In order to be prepared for this transformation, IALA encourages its stakeholders to conduct a gap analysis between the national AtoN dataset and S-201 product specification. This gap analysis process would allow the stakeholders to examine the level of effort required in obtaining S-201 compatibility and determine how to best achieve this goal.

4.      Current state

As part of the initial exercise, some examples from Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Sweden, the Republic of Korea, and the USA were initially analysed, and the interim findings are;

• all data samples use national schemas,
• the terms and definitions used in national data samples are not harmonised,
• data samples are not documented and represent a barrier to use.

For those countries that do not have any format for exchanging datasets, a standard table template compliant with S-201 could help them to develop one.

5.      IALA S-200 Test and validation tool

IALA developed an S-200 test and validation tool version 2, which can be used to test the S-200 series dataset and their portrayal. To get the login for the tool, please contact the secretariat (tm@iala.int). This is kindly supported by the Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and KRISO.

Link to the Test and validation tool (SIREN)

IALA stakeholders are requested to make use of the S-200 test and validation tool and report any findings to the IALA secretariat (tm@iala.int).