EXCLUSIVE: S-131: A standardised source of port information

As maritime operations become increasingly digitally connected and data-driven, access to standardised digital information is becoming ever more important across the sector, particularly in ports, writes Paul Marks, head of UK Partnerships at the UK Hydrographic Office.

Currently, when a ship prepares to enter port, bridge teams often must piece together information from a patchwork of sources, including port authority websites, pilot books, and emails. Information about berth details and pilot boarding points exist, but rarely in one place or in a common format. This is not just a problem for visiting ships. Inside the port, operators are often working from the same fragmented data, making real-time decisions difficult.

At the same time, there is rising commercial pressure for ports to enable more seamless operations, reduce delays and support emerging practices like just-in-time arrivals. Mariners and vessel operators are coming to expect accessible and trusted information to facilitate efficient and safe port call planning. As such, by providing this data in a more usable and easier-to-access format, ports could reduce uncertainty and delays during port calls.

To meet this need, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has created the S-131 product specification for Marine Harbour Infrastructure, part of a growing family of product specifications built on the S-100 data framework. The specification establishes a standardised format in which information on port facilities and services can be shared and displayed within Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).

A standardised format for port information

S-131 is a new data format that provides marine harbour information, including the locations of terminals, berths, fairways and turning basins, alongside services such as bunkering, waste reception and repair facilities. Although ports typically hold this information, it is often not widely shared digitally at scale. S-131 has been designed to provide a standardised structure through which authoritative information about port infrastructure and services can ultimately be made available across the port ecosystem.

Ports are the natural authority on their own infrastructure and play an important role in maintaining accurate, up-to-date information. As such, their involvement will be crucial in supporting the development of S-131, helping authoritative port information become available in a consistent and accessible format. For ports, the introduction of S-131 will enable them to become part of a trusted information environment–one that supports greater alignment and more informed decision-making.

Connecting port data through S-100

S-131 is part of the maritime sector’s larger transition to S-100. Developed by the IHO, the S-100 framework will underpin the next generation of navigation technologies, enabling multiple types of hydrographic and marine geospatial data to be displayed together within a single ECDIS.

Within the S-100 framework, S-131 can provide greater value when combined with other data products, including high-resolution bathymetry (S-102) and dynamic water levels (S-104). By enabling multiple data sources to be viewed in a single display, S-100 can give bridge teams a more complete picture of a port approach, improving navigational efficiency and confidence.

Outside of S-131, the broader benefits of the S-100 framework also extend to port operators. For example, ports that collect high-resolution bathymetric data to produce S-102 data sets can gain a more precise understanding of navigable water, enhancing their own decision-making around tidal windows and vessel movements. A common data framework can also help strengthen coordination between port authorities and port users, helping to reduce friction during port calls.

Preparing for an S-131 future

Building readiness for this increasingly connected data environment starts with ports understanding the information they hold about their infrastructure and services: who owns it, how it is maintained and how quickly changes are reflected. S-131 is an opportunity for ports to contribute the authoritative information needed to support a safer and more predictable experience for visiting ships, while also giving their own teams a stronger evidence base for operational decisions.