Automatic Identification Systems

(AIS)
AIS was included into the revised SOLAS chapter 5 by the
IMO in 2000, this equipment is required to be capable of
providing information about the ship to other vessels, and
coastal stations automatically.

Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in operation at all

times except where international agreements, rules, or
regulations provide for the protection of navigational
information.
 Requirements
The regulation requires that AIS shall:

• Provide Information – Including speed, position,

course, and other safety information,
automatically, to ships carrying AIS, and coastal
stations
• Receive automatically such information, as
displayed by similarly fitted ships
• Exchange data with shore based facilities
Automatic identification systems (AISs) are designed to be capable of providing information about the ship to other
ships and to coastal authorities automatically.
 Uses
• The AIS , if used with the appropriate geographical display,
enables provision of information regarding CPA and TCPA by
calculating vectors using the target’s transmitted Position,
speed, and course.
• It operates primarily on two dedicated VHF channels, and
where these channels are not available regionally, the AIS is
automatically switched to a designated alternate channel.
• In practice the capacity of the system is unlimited, allowing
for numerous ships to be monitored at the same time.
• The AIS can detect ships for approximately up to 30 Miles,
and this distance can be greatly improved with the aid of
coastal stations.
• The information is automatically transmitted, without the
intervention of the OOW
 Components
• Antennas
• One VHF transmitter
• Two multi-channel VHF receivers
• One channel 70 VHF receiver
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• An electronic position fixing system (GNSS
receiver)
• Interfaces to heading/speed devices
• Interfaces to RADAR, ARPA, ECDIS, etc
• BIIT (Built in integrity test)
• Minimum display and keyboard input
 Data content
The information displayed are of three different
types:

• Fixed/Static: Inserted upon installation, and

does not change unless vessel undergoes a major
conversion
• Dynamic: with the exception of Navigational
status, this information is automatically received
from various inputs
• Voyage related information: May need to be
manually updated during the voyage
 Fixed/static information
• MMSI number
• Call sign & Name
• IMO number
• Length and beam
• Type of ship
• Location of position fixing antenna
 dynamic information
• Ship’s position
• Position time stamp in UTC
• Course over ground
• Speed over ground
• Heading
• Navigational status
• Rate of Turn
 Voyage related information

• Draught
• Hazardous cargo
• Destination & ETA
• Route Plan
 AIS & collision avoidance?
The potential of AIS as an anti-collision device is recognized and AIS
may be recommended as such in the future, but nevertheless this
information may be used to assist in collision avoidance, and the
following cautionary points should be considered:

• AIS is an additional source of navigation, meant to support, and

not replace, systems such as RADAR tracking, and

• The use of AIS does not negate the OOW of his/her responsibility
to comply at all times with the Collision Regulations.
What does SOLAS say - ANNEX 17
USE OF AIS IN SHIP REPORTING
AIS has the potential to reduce the work of the watchkeeper by
automatically providing coastal stations with the information
which they require under mandatory or voluntary reporting
schemes as well as for VTS purposes. To this end it is essential
that the Static and Voyage-related information is at all times
correctly programmed and that the Dynamic inputs are
functioning correctly. (See IMO Guidelines, para 12). Additionally
the mariner must consider the following:
a.) The coastal station may not be equipped to monitor AIS.
b.) The ship may be within a reporting system but out of VHF
range of the coastal station.
c.) Reporting requirements may require more information than
the AIS transmits.
 USE OF AIS IN NAVIGATION
AIS provides identification of targets together with the static and dynamic information listed in the IMO
Guidelines para.12. Mariners should, however, use this information with caution noting the following important
points:

a.) Collision avoidance must be carried out in strict compliance with the COLREGs. There is no provision in the
COLREGs for use of AIS information therefore decisions should be taken based primarily on visual and/or
radar information.
b.) The use of VHF to discuss action to take between approaching ships is fraught with danger and still
discouraged. (See MGN 324 (M+F) - Radio: Operational Guidance on the Use Of VHF Radio and Automatic
Identification Systems (AIS) at Sea) The MCA’s view is that identification of a target by AIS does not remove
the danger. Decisions on collision avoidance should be made strictly according to the COLREGs
c.) Not all ships will be fitted with AIS, particularly small craft and fishing boats. Other floating objects which
may give a radar echo will not be detected by AIS.
d.) AIS positions are derived from the target’s GNSS position. (GNSS = Global Navigation Satellite System,
usually GPS). This may not coincide with the radar target.
e.) Faulty data input to AIS could lead to incorrect or misleading information being displayed on other vessels.
Mariners should remember that information derived from radar plots relies solely upon the data measured by
the own-ship’s radar and provides an accurate measurement of the target’s relative course and speed, which is
the most important factor in deciding upon action to avoid collision. Existing ships of less than 500 gt. Which
are not required to fit a gyro compass are unlikely to transmit heading information.
f.) A future development of AIS is the ability to provide “pseudo” navigation marks by enabling coastal
authorities to provide an AIS symbol on the display in any position. Mariners should bear in mind that this
ability could lead to the appearance of “spurious” AIS targets and therefore take particular care when an AIS
target is not complemented by a radar target. It should be noted though that AIS will sometimes be able to
detect targets which are in a radar shadow area.