What is Ship AIS
2025-05-29
Ship AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a maritime communication and tracking system used to monitor the movements of ships and improve maritime safety and navigation.
Key Features of AIS:
Automatic Transmission:
Ships automatically broadcast information such as their identity, position, speed, heading, and other voyage-related data at regular intervals.
Real-Time Tracking:
AIS allows ships to see and be seen by others in the vicinity and by coastal stations or satellites.
Collision Avoidance:
AIS supplements radar and helps prevent collisions by allowing vessels to identify and track nearby traffic, especially in congested or low-visibility areas.
Information Shared:
Typical AIS data includes:
MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity)
Ship name and type
Position (latitude, longitude)
Speed over ground (SOG)
Course over ground (COG)
Heading
Destination and ETA
Navigational status (e.g., underway, at anchor)
Types of AIS:
Class A: Mandatory for large commercial vessels (typically >300 gross tons) and passenger ships. Offers more frequent and detailed transmissions.
Class B: Used by smaller vessels like fishing boats and yachts. Lower transmission power and update rate.
AIS-SART / MOB AIS: Personal AIS beacons used in man-overboard or emergency situations.
Base Stations: Installed on land to collect AIS data for coastal monitoring.
AIS via Satellite (S-AIS):
Allows global tracking of ships even when they're outside range of shore-based stations.
Uses of AIS:
Vessel traffic services (VTS) and harbor management
Maritime domain awareness (MDA)
Fleet tracking and logistics
Search and rescue operations
Environmental monitoring (e.g., detecting illegal fishing or oil spills)
Security and anti-piracy operations
AIS is an essential tool in modern shipping, required under the IMO’s SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations for many classes of ships.
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