The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is opening an infrastructure centre in Busan, South Korea, with responsibility for developing and validating the S-100 international standard for digital maritime information.
The centre, located at the Busan International Finance Centre 2 (BIFC2), will support the development and management of S-100 standards, operation of associated infrastructure and the transition to S-100-based maritime information services.
S-100 is designed to allow different types of maritime information, including tides and ocean currents, to be displayed together on a single navigation equipment screen. The standard provides a framework for integrating multiple maritime data types, including information that changes in real time.
The centre will also support type approval of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and the implementation of operational services based on S-100. South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the opening, with Minister Hwang Jong-woo describing the establishment of the centre as an opportunity for the country to lead the global digital transformation of maritime information.
