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From IHO Nautical Information Processing Working Group
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This wiki is being used to support NIPWG working groups. Non NIPWG members e.g. other IHO working group members, marine experts, OEM personnel may contribute if authorised by NIPWG Chairman or Vice Chairman. Contact details can be obtained either at the users list page or here.


You must be registered and logged in to edit pages. You may apply for an account by asking the NIPWG Chairman to set up an account for you. Having received the login details, it is strongly recommended to provide contact details at your user page; refer to users list pages where your account is listed.


The following product specificions are under the remit of NIPWG: ((table below is under construction))

ProdSpec number Abstract Scope
S-122 (Marine Protected Area) A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a protected area whose boundaries include an area of the ocean. They include areas of the intertidal or sub-tidal terrain, together with their overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of, the enclosed environment. For example, MPAs may be established to protect fish species, rare habitat area, or entire ecosystems.

MPAs can range from, simple declarations to protect a resource, to areas that are extensively regulated. The degree to which environmental regulations affect shipping varies according to whether MPAs are located in territorial waters, exclusive economic zones, or high seas. These limits are regulated by the law of the sea. Most MPAs are located in the territorial waters of coastal states, where enforcement can be ensured. MPAs can also however be established in a state's exclusive economic zone and even within international waters. For example in 1999, Italy, France and Monaco jointly established a cetacean sanctuary in the Ligurian Sea named the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals. This sanctuary includes both national and international waters.

Datasets conforming to this specification will contain all relevant MPA information for the area of coverage. Additionally there will be relevant metadata data quality, production authority, data sources and publication date.
S-123 (Marine Radio Services) Radio services product specification describe the means to capture availability and reliability of radio stations, radio position fixing

systems, radio beacons, services offering navigational warnings and weather forecasts in the maritime domain. This may include details on the service areas, services offered and instructions for contacting or utilizing these services.

Datasets conforming to this specification will contain all relevant maritime radio service information for the area of coverage. Additionally, there will be relevant metadata data quality, production authority, data sources and publication date.
S-125 (Marine Navigational Services) Abstract Scope
S-126 (Marine Physical Environment) The Marine Physical Environment Product Specification provides historical information on the climate of an area, specifically the weather conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.) or oceanic phenomenon (currents, sea levels, water characteristics, etc.), of a region.

Functionally, it is expected to aid in the identification of landmarks, entrances, hazards, and points of interest along a marked path – enriching the visuals shown on the nautical chart, as well as to help in decision making on how (and when) best to approach the desired port. The product specification contains the information used to understand both the dynamic environmental conditions that surround the mariner but also descriptions of the environment that cannot be rendered on a 2D chart without cognitive overload from symbols and chart clutter. It is also intended to aid the user in filtering and presenting the data only when necessary. The primary users would be the ship itself and the shipping company to use historical data for voyage planning (route, navigation safety, etc.) and to familiarize themselves with an area before entry. Secondary users would be academia and other researchers. The expected functionality would be Route Planning Mode (planning) use.

The overall scope of the specification (at the historical level) can be two-fold

1. Wide area—Covers ocean basin or other geographic feature. 2. Small area—Covers individual ports.

S-127 (Marine Traffic Management) Marine Traffic Management (MTM) datasets describe the availability and reliability of vessel traffic services, pilotage, routing measures, and ship reporting systems. This includes their service areas, services offered, and instructions for contacting or utilizing these services. MTM is intended to be a supplement to ENC, and therefore does not describe the geographic information in detail equal to ENC, rather it is shown as a simplified geometry to indicate location, and to be a means of geolocating more regulatory information than the typical ENC. Datasets conforming to this specification will contain all relevant MTM information for the area of coverage. Additionally, there will be relevant metadata data quality, production authority, data sources, and publication date.
S-128 (Catalogue of Nautical Products) Catalogue of Nautical Products (CNP) datasets describe the availability and reliability of paper chart, ENC, S-100 based nautical products, application for navigational purpose, online service and e-Navigation services. This includes their issue date, publication status, producing agency, source indication. CNP is intended to exchange status of nautical products and to be a supplement to ENC, and therefore does not describe the geographic information in detail equal to ENC, rather it is shown as a coverage of nautical products. Datasets conforming to this specification will contain catalogue of all relevant nautical products information for the area of coverage such as paper chart, ENC, Nautical publication, S-100 based nautical products and e-Navigation services.
S-1xx (Marine Harbour Infrastructure) The Marine Harbour Infrastructure product intended use is to raise situational awareness before approaching a harbour.

Knowing a priori the layout of the berths as well as the services offered for berthing procedure and alongside is important in the berth-to-berth route planning process for an efficient harbour call. Knowing all the services they need while at port are available and accessible as well as having a smooth transition into their berthing position. The data will be able to be filtered according to needs to help reduce the cognitive burden on the mariner and presented in a way that is compact, organised and easily accessible. This information is also useful for shipping companies, brokers and other in the industry to optimize their planning.

The Marine Harbour Infrastructure describes relevant and data on harbour infrastructure, facilities and services in a harmonised form.

The main source of the data is information from harbour masters.


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