Korea builds S-101 coverage across all its waters — a world first under the new international standard

New charts deliver tidal, current and navigation data; 808 sea areas go live Friday

Photo is for illustrative purposes only. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo is for illustrative purposes only. [Getty Images Bank]

South Korea has become the first country in the world to produce next-generation electronic navigational charts covering its entire maritime territory under the new international standard, a move expected to sharpen navigational safety and advance the country's digital maritime services.

The National Institute of Oceanography and Hydrography under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Wednesday that it will officially launch S-101 electronic navigational charts — the next-generation international standard — for all of South Korea's coastal waters starting Friday.

Electronic navigational charts are digital maps used by vessels to plot courses at sea, providing information on water depth, coastlines, reefs, shipping lanes and lighthouses. The newly introduced S-101 standard, developed by the International Hydrographic Organization, carries a broader range of maritime data than its predecessor, including tidal levels, currents and navigation advisories.

The institute built S-101 charts for 808 sea areas, or cells, along the country's coast, including major ports such as Busan and Incheon. Publishing next-generation international-standard electronic charts for an entire national maritime jurisdiction is a world first, it said.

Before the launch, the institute completed two at-sea validation trials using actual vessels in May and June. The first trial assessed the charts' display and operational performance, while the second examined the integration of S-100-based maritime data services and their readiness for deployment.

Cha Seong-sin, acting director of the National Institute of Oceanography and Hydrography, said the publication of S-101 charts marks "the starting point for building a next-generation digital navigation environment," adding that the institute would also pursue the spread of international standards and the commercialization of maritime data.


adastra@heraldcorp.com