Chapter 1: Introduction
2 Introduction to AIS
AIS enables the automatic exchange of shipboard information from the
vessel's sensors (dynamic data), as well as manually entered static and
voyage related data, between one vessel and another and between a vessel
and a shore station(s). AIS also provides the possibility to send short safety
related text messaging for ship or shore personnel. AIS devices are required
internationally on most commercial vessels as identified by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the Safety of Life at Sea
Convention (SOLAS), Chapter V. In addition, AIS is often required
domestically on other vessels by some administrations.
AIS applications and purpose
The principal applications of AIS are:
• Information exchange between vessels within VHF range of each other,
increasing situation awareness
• Information exchange between a vessel and a shore station, such as a
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), to improve traffic management in
congested waterways
• Automatic reporting in areas of mandatory and voluntary reporting
• Exchange of safety related information between vessels and between
vessels and shore station(s).
The purpose of AIS is to improve the safety of navigation and protection of
the environment by assisting in the effective navigation of ships and the
operation of VTS. This is achieved through the following:
• In a ship-to-ship mode for collision avoidance
• As a means for littoral states to obtain information about a ship and its
cargo
• As a VTS tool, i.e. ship-to-shore, for traffic management
• Increased situational awareness which enables effective response to
emergencies such as search and rescue (SAR) as well as environmental
pollution
• Providing data to identify trends or improvements to enhance
navigational safety.
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