AIS

AIS enables to continuously transmit information about the characteristics and movements of vessels, between vessels and from vessels to the shore. It has been designed to be an effective supplementary aid of Radar/ARPA for collision avoidance and to assist VTS operators in identifying ships, their intended movement and to obtain other relevant information. AIS is particularly useful in combination with the electronic chart. Vessels are equipped with a broadcast transponder system operating in the VHF maritime band transmitting their identity, position, speed, course and other relevant information to all other AIS users within VHF range.

At present, according to the regulations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), all vessels coming under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention are equipped with AIS. Non SOLAS vessels may carry a ‘passive’ AIS receiver which, in combination with your Chartworx Electronic Chart System, enables you to display AIS targets together with the transmitted information over your electronic chart.