10/17/2022

AIS (Automatic Identification System) •The AIS

is an automatic tracking system used
on ships and by Vessel Traffic
Services (VTS) for identifying and
locating vessels by electronically
exchanging data with other
nearby ships and AIS base stations.

Shipboard AIS
AIS: Automatic Identification System

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Designed for maritime traffic safety (collision Info Exchanged

avoidance)
Static Data
Each merchant ship carries a transponder that Dynamic data
automatically communicates to all neighbouring Voyage related data
ships by VHF radio link Safety related Message

Introduced by International Maritime Organisation ID, (call sign, name), type,

(IMO) International Convention for the Safety of position, speed, heading , rudder angle ,;
Life at Sea (SOLAS) cargo, draught, origin, destination…
Short Msg about Ice bergs, derelicts etc

•Regulation 19 of SOLAS Chapter V - •The regulation requires AIS to be fitted aboard

Carriage requirements for ship all ships of 300 gross tonnages and
borne navigational systems and equipment - upwards engaged on international voyages,
sets out navigational equipment to be carried cargo ships of 500 gross tonnages and
on board ships, according to ship type. upwards not engaged on international voyages
and all passenger ships irrespective of size.
In 2000, IMO adopted a new requirement (as
part of a revised new chapter V) for all ships • The requirement became effective for all ships
to carry AIS capable of providing information
by 31 December 2004.
about the ship to other ships and to coastal
authorities automatically.

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•Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in •The regulation requires that AIS shall:
operation at all times except where •Provide information - including the
international agreements, rules or standards ship's identity, type, position, course,
provide for the protection of navigational speed, navigational status and other
information. safety-related information automatically
to appropriately equipped shore
stations, other ships and aircraft;

•Receive automatically such information •It is estimated that more than 40,000 ships
from similarly fitted ships; monitor and currently carry AIS class A equipment.
track ships;
•In 2007, the new Class B AIS standard was
Exchange data with shore-based introduced which enabled a new generation
facilities. of low-cost AIS transceivers.

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AIS how… BASIC OVERVIEW

Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
Time-
[][][][][][]][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

GNSS
Gyro/Heading
Rate of Turn
Each AIS consists of one VHF Tx ,2 VHF STDMA Rx
dGPS
Inputs per SOLAS
requirements (Self-organising Time Division Multiple Access), one
1 VHF Transceiver
VHF DSC Rx(Digital selective Calling) and std Marine
3 VHF Receivers
- AIS1 Ch.87B
- AIS2 Ch.88B
communication links
- DSC Ch.70

•AIS transponders automatically broadcast

!AIVDM,2,2,7,A,2220<5<PTq2r7P2222220p4q@T<tdE2r`P0,2*4E...
information, such as their position, speed, and
navigational status, at regular intervals via a VHF
NMEA--0183
NMEA
!ECBBM,2,2,0,0,8,>@fQp0PPPPPP>1>D93?;5@fb80,0*64

COMMUNICATE
Broadcasts and
ASSEMBLE
Gathers positioning, heading, vessel
READ
AIS data sentences
transmitter built into the transponder.
manages the flow of AIS data and assembles it into an AIS may be read/sent
data sentences compliant data sentences on/to
multiple devices

BASIC OVERVIEW •The signals are received by AIS transponders

fitted on other ships or on land based
systems, such as VTS systems.
•The information originates from the ship's
navigational sensors, typically its Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and gyrocompass. • The received information can be displayed
on a screen or chart plotter, showing the
• Other information, such as the vessel name and other vessels' positions in much the same
VHF call sign, is programmed when installing the manner as a radar display.
equipment and is also transmitted regularly.

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AIS messages are updated & retransmitted very

fast
To accommodate high update rate AIS uses Self-
organising Time-Division Multiple Access (STDMA)
data communication scheme

Highly accurate time signals needed(GPS)

•AIS integrate a standardized VHF transceiver with a USES

positioning system such as a LORAN-C or GPS receiver, •AIS information supplements marine radar, which
with other electronic navigation sensors, such as a continues to be the primary method of collision
gyrocompass or rate of turn indicator. avoidance for water transport.
•Vessels fitted with AIS transceivers and transponders
can be tracked by AIS base stations located along •Information such as Unique Identification,
coast lines or, when out of range of terrestrial Position, Course and Speed are provided by AIS
networks, through a growing number of satellites equipment which can be displayed on a screen or
fitted with special AIS receivers. an ECDIS.

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•AIS is intended to assist a vessel's watch

keeping officers and
• allow maritime authorities to track and
monitor vessel movements.

The picture shows an AIS display on board the

Norwegian coastal vessel MF Bastø II. It shows a list of
vessels nearby with range, bearing and name.

APPLICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

•Due to the limitations of VHF radio
Collision Avoidance communications, and because not all vessels
•AIS were developed to avoid collisions among large are equipped with AIS, the system is meant to
vessels at sea that are not within range of shore- be used primarily as a means of lookout and
based systems. to determine the risk of collision rather than
as an automatic collision avoidance system, in
accordance with the International Regulations
for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

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•When a ship is navigating at sea, information

about the movement and identity of other ships •These preventative mechanisms, however,
in the vicinity is critical for navigators to make sometimes fail due to time delays, radar
decisions to avoid collision with other ships and limitations, miscalculations, and display
dangers (shoal or rocks). malfunctions and can result in a collision.

•Visual observation (e.g., unaided, binoculars,

and night vision), audio exchanges (e.g., whistle,
horns, and VHF radio), and radar or Automatic
Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) are historically used
for this purpose.

Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)

While requirements of AIS are to display only very
basic text information the data obtained can be •In busy waters and harbours, a local VTS may exist to
integrated with a graphical electronic chart or a manage ship traffic.
radar display, providing consolidated navigational •Here, AIS provides additional traffic awareness and
information on a single display information about the configuration and movements
of ships.

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AIS for vessel monitoring Maritime Security

AIS receiver on the coast will give local picture

Line-of-sight, i.e. out to 30-50 nm (depending on AIS enable authorities to identify specific
receiver height) vessels and their activity within or near a
Can be even further due to ducting nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Many countries are installing coastal AIS network When AIS data is fused with existing radar
International networks collect data from many systems, authorities are able to differentiate
shores between vessels more easily.
AIS improve maritime domain awareness and
allows for heightened security and control.

Aids to Navigation
•AIS was developed with the ability to
broadcast the positions and names of objects
other than vessels, such as navigational aid and These aids can be located on shore, such as
marker positions and dynamic data reflecting in a lighthouse, or on water platforms,
the marker's environment (e.g., currents and or buoys
climatic conditions).

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Search and Rescue (SAR) •In such cases, AIS can provide additional
information and enhance awareness of
available resources, even if the AIS range is
•For coordinating on-scene resources of a limited to VHF radio range.
marine SAR operation, it is imperative to
have data on the position and navigation •The AIS standard also envisioned the
possible use on SAR aircraft, and included a
status of other ships in the vicinity. message (AIS Message 9) for aircraft to report
their position

Accident Investigation
SAR vessels and aircraft can aid in locating people in
distress through the AIS-based SAR transmitter (AIS- •AIS information received by VTS is important
SART) which has been added to Global Maritime for accident investigation since it provides
Distress Safety System (GMDSS) regulations from accurate data on time, identity, GPS-based
January 1, 2010 position, compass heading, course over
ground, speed (by log/SOG), and rates of turn,
rather than the less accurate information
provided by radar.

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The transponder system for ships operates Every 2 - 10 seconds, a ship equipped with AIS
transmits the following data:
in the VHF band.
MMSI number
Navigation status, e.g. 'at anchor' or 'under way'
The two frequencies used worldwide are Ground speed, from 0 to 102 kts in steps of 0,1 kt
Rate of turn, 0 to 720 degrees per minute
161.975 MHz (channel 87B or AIS1 ). and Position
162.025 MHz (channel 88B, or AIS2). Heading and Course over Ground
Time stamp

Furthermore, every six minutes the following To receive AIS, there are several options:
information is transmitted: MMSI number
Callsign
Option 1: PC with soundcard
Ship's name
A receiver with a discriminator output or 9600 bps
Type of ship or cargo packet radio output
Dimensions of the ship An audio cable between receiver and PC
Draught, 0.1 to 25.5 m A PC with soundcard, runningthe appropriate software:
Destination - Shipplotter, a complete solution. Or
Estimated time of arrival (ETA) at destination - AISMon, together with with navigation software like
(captain's discretion) SeaClear, OpenCPN or WinGPS.
This requires somewhat more computer knowledge to
Ships broadcast all information alternating between
configure
the two channels.

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Receiver should not be scanning when you want to

receive AIS, since it would miss AIS transmissions
(hence ships) while scanning other frequencies.

Tune your radio to either one AIS frequency.

If you use a marine VHF, it should be on channel 87

or 88 constantly. Since it can't be used for normal
traffic while monitoring AIS, it is advisable to use a
second marine VHF for AIS.

Not all marine VHF equipment is suited to receive

AIS.

Option 2: PC with serial port

•A dedicated AIS receiver, like the NASA AIS

Engine or the SR161/SR162.
• These receivers contain a microprocessor that
translates the raw AIS signal into NMEA
sentences
•A PC with a serial port, running navigation
software to process the NMEA sentences, or an
AIS plotter
NMEA is a combined electrical and data specification for
communication between marine electronic devices such as echo
sounder, sonars, anemometer, gyrocompass, autopilot, GPS receivers
and many other types of instruments. It has been defined by, and is
controlled by, the U.S.-based National Marine Electronics Association

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Pseudo AIS
Option 3: Internet

You're far from the nearest port or the coast? Or VTIS collates info on vessels which are not
you don't want to do it yourself? Several internet fitted with AIS in the vicinity & transmits it
sites offer AIS information.
to ships with AIS
A good choice is www.vesseltracker.com.

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