Harmonizing Encryption Protocols for the Baltic Sea Region
Baltic Sea ENC Harmonisation and FIN-SWE Pilot: A Look Back and Current Status
The Baltic Sea ENC Harmonisation project, initiated in 2007 by the Baltic Sea Hydrographic Commission (BSHC), aimed to standardise depth information presentation in electronic navigation charts (ENCs) for the Baltic Sea area. The project was a response to the need for improved safety and interoperability in electronic navigation.
In 2008, the BSHC's ENC Harmonisation Working Group (BSEHWG) produced 17 recommendations to improve ENC consistency among member states, primarily targeted at ENC producers. These recommendations addressed a range of issues, including the use of Compilation scale and Usage bands, Scale minimum (SCAMIN), Depth contours (DEPCNT) and Depth areas (DEPARE), "Across Borders" coverage, harmonization testing, and 5-meter buffer zones.
A significant development came in 2012 when the BSHC established a pilot project between Finland and Sweden for improving the harmonization of depth information and presentation of both ENCs and paper charts. The project, known as the FIN-SWE Pilot, identified numerous inconsistencies, such as mismatches in Navigational Purposes, density of soundings, SCAMIN settings, representation of depressions, mismatches of depth contours, generalization of depth contours, non-equivalent depth contours, and rounding of soundings.
In April 2014, the Baltic Sea INT Chart Coordinating Working Group (BSICCWG) established a Correspondence Group to study these recommendations in more detail. The Correspondence Group was expected to report to BSICCWG by April 2015. Meanwhile, a joint chart updating process was being developed within the FIN-SWE Pilot, with testing planned to start in August 2014 in the Åland Sea.
However, as of July 2025, there is no new publicly accessible information on the progress of the Baltic Sea ENC Harmonisation Recommendations 2008 or the current status of the FIN-SWE Pilot. The retrieved documents and sources address various unrelated topics, such as water security, tobacco excise policy harmonisation, Finnish-Swedish ice class ship rules, and nuclear law education programs.
For the latest updates on the Baltic Sea ENC Harmonisation Recommendations or the FIN-SWE Pilot progress, it is recommended to consult official maritime authorities such as the Baltic Sea hydrographic offices (from Finland and Sweden), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), national maritime administrations of Finland and Sweden, and Baltic Sea regional maritime forums or working groups. These sources typically maintain up-to-date documentation and announcements on ENC harmonisation initiatives.
- Employing marine spatial data and advanced technology, such as gadgets and smartphones, could potentially enhance the safety of navigation in the Baltic Sea region, improving navigation systems and augmenting the interpretation of electronic navigation charts (ENCs).
- In light of the considerable improvements in science and technology, it might be valuable to reevaluate the inconsistencies identified during the FIN-SWE Pilot, particularly in terms of medical-conditions that could impair a navigator's abilities and how best to represent this information on ENCs.
- The advancements in our scientific understanding of the marine environment and the integration of new technology, like improved sensors and data analysis tools, should be considered when reassessing the recommendations made by the BSHC's ENC Harmonisation Working Group, as they can support improved safety of navigation and the reliability of ENC data.
