About PRIMAR

PRIMAR is an international collaboration dedicated to providing a consistent and reliable Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) service.
Operated on a non-profit basis by the Norwegian Hydrographic Service (NHS) in close cooperation with Electronic Chart Centre (ECC), PRIMAR supports an ecosystem where providers retain control of their data and release, while authorised distributors deliver services to end users globally.

Primar RENC

"We are one of the world's two regional ENC coordinating centres (RENCs). A RENC compiles ENCs and S-100 products from national or international hydrographic authorities, validates the data and manages product distribution through appointed distributors." 

Hans Chr. Lauritzen, Director PRIMAR

 

 

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Vision

Our vision is to enhance safety at sea and protect the maritime environment by being the most efficient model for the provision of ENC services and maritime geospatial data worldwide.

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Mission

Our mission is to provide the maritime community through authorised distributors with an ENC service recognised for its quality, user-friendliness and contribution to marine safety and efficiency at a global level.

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Why PRIMAR

A trusted gateway to the world’s official hydrographic data.

PRIMAR connects Hydrographic Offices and maritime data distributors through a single, efficient service framework. By bringing together official datasets from a global community of producing authorities, PRIMAR enables reliable distribution of high-quality maritime data to the international maritime market.

For distributors, this means one point of access to a comprehensive database of official ENC and maritime data products - without the need to establish and manage separate agreements with individual Hydrographic Offices.

For Hydrographic Offices, PRIMAR provides a trusted operational environment for collaboration, quality assurance, and global data distribution.

Together, this creates a strong and efficient ecosystem that benefits the entire maritime community.

At its core, PRIMAR’s purpose is to support safe, efficient, and sustainable navigation worldwide. By connecting data producers with a global network of authorised distributors, PRIMAR ensures that high-quality hydrographic information reaches the mariners and systems that depend on it.

What PRIMAR Provides

Through a structured service framework, PRIMAR supports the full operational lifecycle of hydrographic data, from intake and quality control to validation and global distribution.

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Data Intake and Quality Control

PRIMAR manages the secure intake of products from official producers. Structured quality control processes ensure datasets are complete, consistent, and ready for operational use.

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PRIMAR Validation

PRIMAR operates validation aligned with established requirements and international standards, securing a high level of data quality and consistency, before products are released to the market.

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Operation & Distribution

PRIMAR ensures reliable and consistent delivery of datasets and updates to authorised distributors worldwide.

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Supporting Future Maritime Data

PRIMAR’s infrastructure is designed to support evolving product types, including the growing portfolio of S-100 based datasets.

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WEND Principles

Our RENC operates in accordance with the IHO’s WEND principles, ensuring a globally consistent supply of high-quality, up-to-date official ENCs. These principles support SOLAS requirements and ECDIS performance standards.

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PRIMAR and ECC

PRIMAR is operated by the Norwegian Hydrographic Service in close cooperation with Electronic Chart Centre (ECC), which supports operations and technology development related to collection, quality assurance and distribution of official electronic charts and related products.

Key staff members

Gudmund Jønsson, Director Hydrographic Service, Norwegian Mapping Authority.
Norwegian Mapping Authority

Gudmund Jønsson

Director Hydrographic Service
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