A delegation from the Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia (HHI) attended the 18th meeting of the International Hydrographic Organisation’s (IHO) Hydrographic Services and Standards Committee (HSSC). The meeting took place from 18 to 22 May 2026 in Gdańsk, Poland.
The HHI expert team participated in this key international event using a hybrid format. Whilst colleagues Katarina Klepo and Mendi Čala attended in person in Gdańsk, other colleagues followed and supported the proceedings online.

The four-day programme focused on the key technological and strategic directions driving global hydrography. The discussions focused on the review of the IHO Strategic Plan 2020–2026, alongside the adoption of new strategic performance indicators up to 2029. Particular attention was paid to the rollout of the S-100 infrastructure, featuring reports on the establishment of the dedicated S-100 Infrastructure Centre (ICE PT) and its security scheme.

As part of ongoing standardisation, new editions of core standard editions such as S-98, S-97, and S-164, were presented alongside a proposed advanced edition of the S-101 standard. Participants also reviewed initial real-world lessons learnt from S-100 sea trial areas in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France. Furthermore, the future of nautical cartography was addressed, specifically the transition to digital-only charting and the automated production of paper charts from ENCs. The agenda also covered standards for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS PT), concluding with the elections for the new HSSC Chair and Vice-Chair.

Attendance at this meeting was vital for HHI. It provided direct insight into the implementation of the new global S-100 standard, laying the groundwork for digital transformation and the future advancement of modern hydrography in Croatia.