AIS Overview

AIS Basics

Screen shots captured with Coastal Explorer by RosePoint Navigation.

An Automatic Identification System (AIS) is used for identifying and monitoring maritime traffic. AIS sends and receives vessel identification information which can be displayed on a laptop computer or chart plotter. Information such as vessel name, radio call sign, navigational status (eg. at anchor, under way using engine), speed, heading, type of ship/cargo, destination, and estimated time of arrival are all examples of information that can be displayed.

AIS Broadcasts: MMSI Number Location (GPS) Name of Ship Radio Call Sign Speed Vessel Type And more…

Some applications for AIS include: Stewardship Monitoring marine sanctuaries for environmental protection Safety Detailed information for collision avoidance and emergency response Security Accident and crime prevention through Maritime Domain Awareness

How AIS Works: Click image for a larger view.

One application for shore-side AIS: Stewardship

An MMSI number is a unique identifier assigned to a boat. Only one number is assigned for all applicable electronics on the vessel, such as an AIS transponder, DSC Radio, and EPIRB. MMSI registration includes contact information to be used in case of an emergency. More information about MMSI numbers can be found on our About MMSI page. You can register your MMSI number with Shine Micro for inclusion in the combined MMSIspace database, which works like a directory for MMSI numbers and includes live, interactive mapping features.

The United States Coast Guard describes AIS as follows:

Picture a shipboard radar display, with overlaid electronic chart data, that includes a mark for every significant ship within radio range, each as desired with a velocity vector (indicating speed and heading). Each ship "mark" could reflect the actual size of the ship, with position to GPS or differential GPS accuracy. By "clicking" on a ship mark, you could learn the ship name, course and speed, classification, call sign, registration number, MMSI, and other information.

Maneuvering information, closest point of approach (CPA), time to closest point of approach (TCPA) and other navigation information, more accurate and more timely than information available from an automatic radar plotting aid, could also be available. Display information previously available only to modern Vessel Traffic Service operations centers could now be available to every AIS-equipped ship.

With this information, you could call any ship over VHF radiotelephone by name, rather than by "ship off my port bow" or some other imprecise means. Or you could dial it up directly using GMDSS equipment. Or you could send to the ship, or receive from it, short safety-related email messages.

The AIS is a shipboard broadcast system that acts like a transponder, operating in the VHF maritime band, that is capable of handling well over 4,500 reports per minute and updates as often as every two seconds. It uses Self-Organizing Time Division Multiple Access (SOTDMA) technology to meet this high broadcast rate and ensure reliable ship-to-ship operation.

Class A vs Class B

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has completed the Class B certification standard. The transmissions of Class B are nearly identical to the Class A; the differences are shown below.

IMO Requirements

The standards and regulations of AIS are established by the International Maritime Organization. The majority of maritime traffic has been required to operate AIS equipment since July of 2004, as stated below:

Modifications to Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) contain a new timetable for the fitting of Automatic Information Systems (AIS). Ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, will be required to fit AIS not later than the first safety equipment survey after 1 July 2004 or by 31 December 2004, whichever occurs earlier. Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in operation at all times except where international agreements, rules or standards provide for the protection of navigational information.

Furthermore, Title 33 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations states that:

Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than passenger and fishing vessels, in commercial service and on an international voyage, not later than December 31, 2004.

The US Congress is considering requiring ships subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act, small passenger vessels, and commercial towing vessels while towing, to also carry AIS equipment.

Additional details about AIS carriage requirements and questions frequently asked may be found on the US Coast Guard website.

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