A new industry analysis, titled "IS S-100 SOLAS COMPLIANT?", challenges the foundational framework of the new S-100 standards. The article concludes that S-100 is not compliant with the SOLAS convention due to its core principle of interoperability. It argues that the combination of data products like S-101, S-102, and S-129 does not constitute a valid Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) as defined by international regulations, creating critical validation gaps and potential safety conflicts. The piece warns that the current approach makes it impossible to produce, validate, or legally use such combined data in ECDIS systems, deeming the adoption of S-100 ECDIS standards unrealistic until this fundamental contradiction is resolved.
The full publication is available on the website.