AIS on Boats

By AIS

May

13

Automatic Identification Systems, or AIS, are electronic transponders that are placed on ships or boats that identify it by name, position, type, & call sign. The signal is VHF that is continuously sent out over the course of the vessel's travels.

VHF signals are often received by other ships as it transmits data about the course and speed of the transponding vessel. Received VHF signals then provide a visual display of all AIS-transmitting ships that are within a certain range. The AIS system therefore provides a highly valuable service to water vessels in helping to track the progress of other watercraft in the nearby area. This decreases the chances of collision on the waterways. . The information that is received by other AIS-enabled boats is primarily available on a personal computer display screen or placed as an overlay on a chartplotter. This helps to verify radar readout.

Navigators and crew members who are on-watch depend on it to make important waterway navigation decisions in terms of course and speed. AIS also is a valuable tool to help search and rescue operations. The device can pinpoint the exact position of a ship in trouble regardless of weather conditions.

Avoiding collisions by AIS programming of specific vessels is information that is exchanged automatically by the systems allowing for safer navigation. The International Maritime Organization requires AIS on all passenger and large shipping vessels (over 300 ton) to use the AIS system. AIS is not required for recreational boats but it is increasingly becoming more popular. All over the world, AIS is thought to be used in over 40,000 vessels.

The primary use of AIS technology is to avoid collisions. AIS does not work alone. VHF radio communications can be limited and considering the fact that every vessel isn't required to AIS, it is not the perfect solution. It is not an automated collision avoidance system as defined by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). In the hands of a skilled captain however, AIS is one of many tools utilized for safe travel.

Sea captains often need help identifying other vessels in a local area in order to make the best decisions on course. That likewise does not mean that all additional types of navigational observation is discarded. There is, of course, visual observation where the captain will often make use of binoculars to notice far away objects or boats. There is also audio observational alerts that a captain has to listen for such as sirens, whistles, or VHF radio. Finally, there is radar or Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) that can provide valuable navigational information to add to what the AIS is plotting. Despite having all this kind of technology, accidents can still happen. It is often because of time delays and limitations of radar or even just plain human error whenever this takes place. The graphical charts and all the other observational tools muct be utilized if water travel is to be safe and AIS is a small part of that.

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