As of June 2023, there are currently 19087 ENC cells, 1389 S-102 products, 1347 S-111 products, 661 Recommended Routes (RTZ) and 85 Nautical Publications, available in the PRIMAR Service.
New ENC Coverage
Saudi Arabia
20 new ENCs for Saudi Arabia (S1) are newly available in the PRIMAR Service.
Lebanese
3 new ENCs for Lebanon (LB) are newly available in the PRIMAR Service.
New S-102 Coverage
The PRIMAR Product Database also continues to increase, with the addition of new Norwegian S-102 products.
The following newly added areas are now available in the PRIMAR service:
Florø
Breivik
Sarnesfjorden
Kamsundet
Fosenøy
Honningsvåg
PRIMAR Services
PRIMAR Web Chart Service
PRIMARs Web Chart Services uses the internet to deliver chart images derived from the content of updated ENCs. Any web browser or application that supports the web map service can access and use the service.
The service can be used on and offshore, allowing images to be viewed on a computer screen which are identical to the data a captain would see on a ships navigation instruments. The service is not for navigation, but for viewing ENCs on a web and in GIS applications without the need of ECDIS or ECS systems, allowing for easy monitoring and planning.
Those offshore users with active subscriptions to PRIMAR ENCs can use their subscribed portfolio in addition on board as a Web Chart Service for "Back of the Bridge" purposes. This service can easily be enabled by a PRIMAR Distributor.
PRIMAR will be continuing to focus its strategy on improving the PRIMAR Services and S-100 Development.
The recent approval for further development of the PRIMAR Chart Catalogue, by the PRIMAR Advisory Committee (PAC), ensures the continuous development of the web tool towards a comprehensive Product Catalogue, ensuring that both ENCs and the new S-100 products are fully support in the PRIMAR Services.
PRIMAR Chart Catalogue
While the PRIMAR product database is increasing, we have identified a need to enable users to view products individually and collated, therefore, in the coming period the development of the catalogue will focus on facilitating the display of licensed products in the service. This service will be beneficial to everyone in the PRIMAR family – from producers to users, and we look forward to expanding our value-added services.
In parallel, we will also focus on the development of user-friendly solutions for our online distribution services. The key will be to enable PRIMAR distributor to deliver ENCs, and new product types requested by customers, as easily and smoothly as possible. PRIMAR will continue to facilitate and adapt to the needs highlighted by our innovative and forward-thinking distributors.
R&D Project: S-100 Demonstrator
Since 2019, PRIMAR has been involved as a partner, in the R&D “S-100 Demonstrator Project”. The research project has been focusing on various tests in operational environments, which introduced the use of S-100 products. Some of the tests involved manoeuvring a few of the worlds largest vessels, in both narrow and challenging waters. Due to the pandemic, we also focused on virtual tests along side our partners, which focused on the harbour infrastructure and analysis of historical voyages. The new S-100 datatypes have been key factors in all tests performed - full details of all the findings and results can be found on the project web page. Although the project period will come to an end this summer, a vast amount of knowledge and technology, into the future of the S-100 world, has been gathered, ensuring an even better service for our partners.
PRIMAR Distributors
Expanding our Horizons: Norwegian Special Missions AS
Recently authorised PRIMAR Distributor, Norwegian Special Missions AS, shines a light on the different possibilities and usage of the PRIMAR Services. Unlike other PRIMAR Distributors who deal with nautical services, Norwegian Special Missions AS handles aviation services, from airborne surveillance, flight inspections to drones, and much more.
The use of ENCs for aviation services will help in the planning and route guidance for aircraft, using systems alongside state of the art technology - an exciting new venture and a chance to expand our services and usage of official maritime products.
The annual strategic meeting, organised by PRIMAR, took place in Stavanger on the 10-11th May. A number of developments, insights and recommendations regarding the efficient implementation of the S100 standard, for chart producing member nations, were discussed and presented. Our world-leading expertise, based on a decade long research and development on the S100 standards, our heavy involvement in IHO working groups, along with our hands-on experiences gained through the conversion of S-57 data to the future S-101 format, and the development of a comprehensive S-100 e-learning training platform, combined together to produce a very constructive and valuable meeting.
PRIMAR Marketing Group Meeting
The PRIMAR Marketing Group has been re-established after discussions during the PAC29 meeting. The first meeting took place on the 15th and 16th of May, in Sweden, with the main purpose of the PRIMAR Marketing Group to coordinate both market and customer related issues alongside PRIMAR.
PRIMAR Technical Expert Working Group
The next online TEWG meeting is scheduled to take place on the 25th and 26th October 2023 - more information will follow.
Other News from PRIMAR
Croatian Maritime Pilots Association visit PRIMAR
On the 10th and 11th May, the President of the Croatian Maritime Pilot Association (CMPA), Capt. Petar Bubic, attended a two day visit to Stavanger to gain more knowledge on the successful cooperation with Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA), PRIMAR and the Norwegian Mapping Authority, Hydrographic Service focusing on e-navigation and the future S-100 products.
Trip to Kvitsøy Vessel Traffic Station (VTS)
Participants from both the PRIMAR Strategy Meeting and the Croatian Maritime Pilots Association Meeting were lucky enough to visit Kvitsøy VTS. The trip involved traveling via a "RIB" boat, a presentation about the work carried out at the VTS, a tour of the facilities and a taste of a local delicacy "Kvitsøykomle"!
PRIMAR visit the Maritime Safety Department VMS-North and the Taiwan ENC Centre
In April, PRIMAR visited the Maritime Safety Department VMS-N in Hai Phong, Vietnam and the Taiwan ENC Centre in Taipei, Taiwan.
The meetings allowed the organisations time to provide updates about their work and activities and provided PRIMAR the opportunity to inform them of the PRIMAR RENC, tools and services that can be offered to Hydrographic Offices Worldwide.
white noise
PRIMAR attends the IHO Assembly
PRIMAR were pleased to be a part of this years IHO Assembly, which took place in Monaco on the 1st - 5th May 2023. It provided PRIMAR with a unique opportunity to meet representatives of the International Hydrographic Organisation Member states, observers and those in the private sector, allowing us to learn more about the various challenges, with regards to ENC production, harmonisation and distribution, and also the transition to S-100.
In the meeting PRIMAR presented the development of their tools, services and projects, which will be used during the transition. These included the Data Conversion Project, the S-100 training portal and the S-100 demonstrator for visualisation.
Assembly highlights can be found on the IHO website!