Worldwide, hydrographic offices are working on introducing new formats, standards, and delivery methods to navigators. A crucial part of this process is identifying how to improve existing products and processes to make room for new developments. This is precisely where the Canadian Hydrographic Service finds itself: seeking ways to enhance or cease current practices to free up resources for future standards and services. We understand it's not practical to simply move our current portfolio and data into new standards and systems without first making them more efficient. In this presentation, we'll discuss a range of initiatives the Canadian Hydrographic Service has either put in place, is working on, or is considering. All are aimed at creating a strong, simple foundation for the future, while continuing to serve our main end-users: mariners. These initiatives include projects like transitioning to the grid and 3 scales for charts, stopping the use of raster charts, ending paper publications distribution, improving the Canadian Sailing Directions, implementing dynamic cloud-based services, introducing subscription-based delivery methods, and reevaluating product maintenance. Through these steps, we're working towards a future navigational landscape that balances efficiency, innovation, and user-focused services.

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is actively in the process of transitioning to a digital future centered on the S-100 standard. While this shift is underway, it's important to recognize the limitations of available resources. In response to this challenge and to prepare for the digital transformation, CHS has developed an automated process known as Paper Chart 2.0 (PC2.0), which is designed to generate traditional paper chart products based on their Electronic Nautical Chart (ENC) portfolio. This automation also allow CHS to focus resources on increasing and improving their ENC portfolio.

The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines Precision Marine Navigation (PMN) as the ability of a ship to safely and efficiently navigate and operate in close proximity to other vessels, the seafloor, bridges, narrow channels, or other marine hazards. NOAA is developing a PMN program to foster a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable marine transportation system by developing marine navigation data products and services that can aid mariners at every step of the navigation process. NOAA’s PMN program aims to make NOAA’s weather, oceanographic, and bathymetric data more accessible. The collective value of NOAA datasets is significantly greater than when they are disseminated separately or are not easily discovered. PMN is building out the information infrastructure that enables the full use of this data for navigation purposes. The backbone of this effort is the International Hydrographic Organizations (IHO) S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model. It provides a framework of components that enables the building of standardized product specifications for the modeling of hydrographic data, and it allows for true interoperability between different data standards and systems. NOAA plans to offer the following navigational information, S-101 - Electronic Navigational Charts, S-102 - Bathymetric Surface, S-104 - Water Level Information, S-111 - Surface Currents, S-411 - Sea ice, S-412 - Wave and Weather Warnings, S-413 - Wave and Weather Conditions and S-414 - Wave and Weather Observations. Through a processing and dissemination system that ingests, processes, and distributes NOAA’s S-100 data; an interactive map viewer that allows users to discover and download the suite of available S-100 products; and a website that provides a one-stop shop for all of NOAA’s navigation resources, PMN is developing products that can aid mariners in their decision-making process for safe and efficient marine navigation.

“You cannot properly manage what you have not measured!” Ocean knowledge is critical to understanding our planet; today we know little about the shape of the ocean floor with more than 75% yet to be fully mapped with modern bathymetric survey of our hydrospatial domain. The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is a collaboration between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) to produce the definitive bathymetric map of the entire ocean by 2030. This is driven by strong motivation to empower the world to make policy decisions, use the ocean sustainably and undertake scientific research informed by detailed understanding of the ocean floor. The end-result map and data set will be freely available for all users. The presentation at the Canadian Hydrographic Conference 2024 will offer an update based on similar presentations made at other previous conferences including the CHC 2022. It will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities the project has been facing in such a global commitment. The presentation will articulate some key elements of this international project, such as: the governance, the concept, the partners, the expected outcomes, and deliverables; in addition to providing a status report and the way forward.

This paper will detail the efforts Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) are extending to modernize their navigational information service delivery to support the rapidly growing S-100 ecosystem. The paper will report on the progress in setting up an S-124 Navigational Warning service, in preparation for Phase 1 of the IHO S-100 Implementation Strategy. It will also show how CCG is preparing for production of an S-123 Maritime Radio Service and an S-127 Maritime Traffic Management service, including investigations into portrayal and best usage practices in the various phases of voyage. To this end, CCG is developing a testing environment based on ECS technology to simulate the user environment and will embark on a consultation process with Canadian stakeholders. CCG is also working actively on the replacement of their Aids to Navigation management suite, which will facilitate the transition to S-201 (Aids to Navigation Information) and S-125 (Marine Aids to Navigation) datasets and services. The status and future timelines will be presented as part of this paper.