Carnival Corporation completed bridge simulator tests evaluating S-100 navigational data in collaboration with international hydrographic offices and industry partners, the company said in a press release.

The tests were conducted at Carnival’s Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART) in Almere, Netherlands, and were recognized as an official International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Test Bed and Sea Trial in Confined Waters.

“S-100 has the potential to change how ships are navigated, and its full value comes to life when mariners feel confident using it,” said Mark Jackson, managing director at CSMART.

“By testing S-100 in the simulator first, we can explore how crews interact with the new data to understand what feels intuitive and where training will help support a smooth, practical transition to real-world adoption.”

S-100 is a digital framework developed by the IHO to deliver real-time maritime data for navigation in complex port environments.

The framework integrates electronic charts, port data and real-time marine conditions such as water levels, tides and currents into a unified navigational environment displayed on a ship’s Electronic Chart Display Information System.

The ports included Rotterdam (Netherlands), Napier (New Zealand), Melbourne (Australia), and Southampton (United Kingdom).

The simulator trials replicated navigation scenarios from these four ports with testing including ports, marine pilots, shipboard captains, deck officers, shore-based marine managers, maritime technology providers and national hydrographic offices.

Participants conducted repeated port approaches, transits and departures using bridge simulators equipped with two S-100 capable ECDIS systems provided by Teledyne and OSI Maritime Systems and two Portable Pilot Units provided by QPS and SEAiq Pilot.

All four systems were connected to two Wärtsilä Full Mission Bridge simulators.

The outcomes will be consolidated into a technical report to support ongoing standards development and future training considerations.

Results will be presented at forums including the International Harbour Masters Association Congress later this year.

Participating organizations included the Australian Hydrographic Office, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Land Information New Zealand, Netherlands Hydrographic Office, UK Hydrographic Office, Port of Rotterdam and Port of Napier.