Electronic Navigational Charts Portrayal and S-100 Standard based Services for Environmentally Sensitive Sea Areas

Data and information on the condition and variability of the marine environment are crucial for understanding changes that result from human activity, including the effects of human-induced climate change. Large quantities of marine related data are collected and stored globally for a wide variety of purposes and by diverse groups of both public and private entities, facilitating the development of Marine Spatial Data Infrastructures (MSDI), that enable a broad range of societal benefits. Nevertheless, in recent years search and rescue operations have been increased for maritime accidents and environmental degradation incidents. For the prevention of such events, advanced electronic navigational chart systems could be used by both vessels onboard and the operations centres for risk-based coordination and access to accurate data for the prevailing conditions around the increased risk area. The capability of the new IHO S-100 standard for electronic navigational charts to support Marine Information Overlays (MIOs) enriches the provided information, as it includes both static and dynamic information such as vessel traffic, tides, currents, weather conditions as well as precise coordinates of sensitive marine protected areas. New applications and services utilising data based on the S-100 series of standards are at the forefront of the IMO's e-Navigation strategy realisation, for the interactive coordination of shore-based stations with vessels, providing automated transmission of enriched data and enhanced portrayal on electronic navigational chart systems for risk-based voyage planning and environmental protection decision-making.