For example, is S-102 data set ENC? Looks like yes, it complies with IHO standard. Or format? Or both? There is no direct answer from IHO and IMO, however intuitively it’s clear that S-102 is not an ENC, but why we should estimate in so important matter? After years spent on standards development IMO/IHO make marine community guessing.
- ENC is dead if there is no standard.
- ECDIS is dead for the reason above.
How it is possible to elaborate testing requirements for S-100 ECDIS in the absence of clear and unambiguous ENC definition?
It has to be full clarity for entire marine society that in a time being only S-57 and S-101 are ENC, nothing else. Until official note is released that such and such data presented in such and such formats satisfying such and such criteria is ENC, like it is done for S-57 and S-101. Till that moment using ENC definition with respect to anything different from S-57 and S-101 is nothing but misleading speculations and juridical nonsense.
In case if IHO insist of using data formats instead of data standards, the national HOs have to have full awareness about liability implications. While publishing S-102, S-129, etc, they should anticipate in all details how this data will be interpreted by individual ECDIS SW and algorithms.
Deems ENC being killed for interoperability’s sake which declared revolution in marine safety. May be it so, but unless standard is in place it turns in risky game setting navigation in danger. If IHO wants to substitute S-57 by mixture of data in different formats, they should have offered real standard for that but not irresponsible phrasing.