Australia has started its first live shipboard trial of S-100 digital navigation data, with dynamic tidal and current information now being tested on the bridge of operational cruise vessels in Sydney Harbour.
The trial is being led by the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) in collaboration with Carnival Cruise Lines, ocean data company Tidetech, and ECDIS software provider OSI Maritime Systems.
Two Carnival cruise ships calling regularly at Sydney are participating in the trial, which places live S-100-based data products directly onto the bridge during normal operations. The data being tested includes Tidetech’s high-resolution S-104 water level and S-111 surface current datasets for Sydney Harbour.
“This trial allows us to get real feedback from bridge crews operating day-to-day in a busy port,” said Alvaro Sanchez, Director of National Charting at the Australian Hydrographic Office.
“They can see how an S-101 ENC works along with dynamic water levels and currents in practice, and how switching data layers on and off supports different operational tasks.”
Sydney Harbour provides a demanding environment for the trial, including tight clearances as well as under-keel and overhead constraints. One of the vessels involved, Carnival Adventure, passes beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge with as little as two metres of clearance above the ship at certain times.
“It’s great to be involved with the development of S-100 products and to be introducing them to our bridge teams at an early stage. This allows us to familiarise with what’s coming, provide feedback direct to a hydrographic office, and shape future navigation practices,” said Doug Bird, Nautical Manager for Carnival Cruise Lines.
While S-100 has previously been evaluated in Australia through simulator-based testing, this is the first time the data products have been trialled aboard operational vessels in Australian waters. Insights from the trial are expected in early June and will inform the future development and deployment of S-100-based navigation services.
“S-100 treats tides and currents as live navigational information rather than background context. A live trial like this helps everyone understand what bridge teams notice, what they trust, and what genuinely supports decision-making when they’re navigating and manoeuvring for real,” said Penny Haire, Chief Executive at Tidetech.
