AIS
Automatic Identification
System
 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
enables automatic identification of ships
from other ships and from shore-based
stations
 AIS uses a VHF transponder for
transmission of identification and
navigational information from ship-to-ship
and ship-to-shore
 AIS-equipped ships are able to identify and
track each other independetly of shorebased stations: it is a global system (UAIS)
 AIS-equipped shore-stations will use the
system to monitor traffic and poll AISequipped ships
What is AIS:
 AIS-equipped ships will continuosly transmit
and receive short messages containing:
– static information about the ship
– dynamic navigational information
– Voyage-related information
STATIC:
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IMO number
Call sign / Name
Lenght / Beam
Type of ship
GPS Antenna location
DYNAMIC:
VOYAGE
RELATED:
Position
UTC
Course
Speed
Navigation Status
Heading
Rate of turn
Keel
Pitch / Roll
Draught
Hazard type
ETA / Destination
Route
Received information will be
displayed on:
 Keyboard Display Unit
 PC, ECS, ECDIS
 ARPA radars
 AIS-equipped ships will be able to exchange
SMS messages ship-to-shore
 AIS-equipped ships will automaticly receive
SMS messages from shore-stations with
information as:
– weather forecast, tides and currents
– port dana, berth assignments
– Shipping agency information etc.
Purpose of AIS:
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Improve situational awarness on board ships
in order to prevent accidents and maritime
disasters by means of:
– automatic swap of navigational information on
ship’s movements to predict situations
– automatic swap of static information to facilitate
ship-to-ship communication
– Interface to ship’s navigational equipment to
increase information value
Advantages of AIS:
For the Officer of the Watch:
 Unambiguous identification of radar targets
 Real time information on other ship’s movements
 Detection of vessels behind bends or obstacles
 Elimination of problem with target swapping
 VHF radio contact with other ships
 Reduction of VHF voice traffic by means of SMS
messages
Advantages of AIS:
For Shore Stations / VTS Centres:
 Automatic identification of radar targets
 Improved coverage when radar picture is
degraded
 Tracking of vessels behind obstacles
 Tracking of dangerous / pulluting cargos
 Automatic broadcasting of traffic / weather
information to all ships in the area
IMO carriage requirement for
SOLAS Ships
SOLAS V, Safety of Navigation, Regulation 19, Chapter
1.5
1. All ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards
engaged on international voyages
2. Cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not
engaged on international voyages
3. Passenger ships irrespective of size
The Administrations may exempt ships wich will be
taken permanently out of service within two years
after the specified implementation date
Retrofits:
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Ships constructed on or after
1 July 2002
Ships engaged on international voyages constructed before
1 July 2002;
-In the case of passenger ships irrespective of size and tankers of all sizes, not
later than
1 July 2003;
-In the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50 000 gross
tonnage and upwards, not later than
1 July 2004;
-In the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross
tonnage and upwards but less than 50 000 gross tonnage, not later than the
first safety equipment survey after 1 July 2004 or by 31 December 2004, which
ever occurs earlier
Ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, not later
than
1 July 2008.
‫٭‬The administration can implement regulation, on national basis, in advance of deadline.
AIS Frequencies:
Frequencies to be used for the universal ship
borne AIS been defined in ITU.R.M.1084-3:
 161.975 MHz/Channel 87B and
 162.025 MHz/Channel 88B
In areas where the designed AIS channels are
not available, the transponder must be able to
be switched to alternative channels, by
message received on DSC channel 70.
Modes of Operation:
 Autonomous: The transponder determines its own
schedule for ship-to-ship transmission.
 Assigned:
The transponder uses a transmission
schedule assigned by a competent
authority’s shore-station, e.g. in
crowded areas.
 Polled:
The transponder automatically respons
to interogation messages from a
competent authority, e.g. a VTS
Control Centre.
Information Update Rates for
Autonomous Mode:
 Static information:
Every 6 min. / when dana has been
amended / on request.
 Dynamic information:
Dependent on speed and course
alteration.
 Voyage-related information:Every 6 min. / when dana has been
amended / on request.
 Safety-related message:
As required.
Class A Ship Borne Mobile Equipment
Reporting Intervals for Dynamic
Information
 Ship at anchor
3 minutes
 Ship 0-14 knots
10 seconds
 Ship 0-14 knots and changing course 3 1/3 seconds
 Ship 14-23 knots
6 seconds
 Ship 14-23 knots and changing course
2 seconds
 Ship > 23 knots
2 seconds
 Ship > 23 knots and changing course
2 seconds
Mandatory Ship Repotring System
in the Adriatic Sea
Categories of ships required to participate in the
system:
 All oil tanker ships of 150 GT and above;
 All ships of 300 GT and above, carrying on
bord, as cargo, dangerous or polluting goods,
in bulk or in packages
NEW TRAFFIC SEPARATION
SCHEMES IN THE ADRIATIC SEA
 Adopted in accordance with the provisions
of the resolution A.858(20)
 Categories of the ships required to
participate in the system:
– routeing systems are recomended for all ships
and should be used in accordance with the
General Provisions on Ship’s Routeing, as
amended.