#Ais system wave app download series#

Known as terrestrial AIS (T-AIS) this technology continues to play a vital role today, with base stations dotted across the planet. In the first wave of AIS development, messages were received exclusively by land ground stations. It’s all about the medium and capabilities, versus the intent. Q: What’s the Difference Between Terrestrial AIS and Satellite AIS? So, in short: safety and maritime domain control. It was also later utilized by national and regional maritime authorities to track vessels plying their coastal waters and to support vessel traffic services (VTS) who, like air traffic control for planes, are responsible for the safe navigation of authorized ships into and out of their ports and harbours. Q: Why was AIS Developed?ĪIS was originally conceived as a short range, high-intensity identification and collision avoidance system that would allow ships to see, and be seen by, other marine traffic in their immediate vicinity. That ranges from merchant vessels including dry bulk, container, general cargo, reefer, ro-ro and tankers to passenger ships, yachts and other pleasure craft offshore supply ships fishing vessels, military fleet and more. Since then, IMO’s AIS Committees have continued to advance standards and protocols across a myriad of vessel types, sizes and fleets sailing on international waters today. In 2006, IMO’s AIS Technical Standards Committee followed up with its ‘Class B’ AIS specification, ushering in lower-cost devices for a broader array of smaller commercial vessels. Major adoption of AIS kicked off after 2002, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the UN regulator governing international shipping – modified its Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to mandate that most large vessels over 300 gross tonnes must fit ‘Class A’ AIS transceivers for international voyages.

#Ais system wave app download series#

In this introduction to a new series showcasing and celebrating the current and evolving dimensions of S-AIS in the digital age, here’s a brief primer on the origins of AIS, the satellite revolution, and some of the major applications today Q: What is AIS Technology?ĪIS (Automatic Identification System) technology is a shipboard broadcast system that transmits a vessel’s identification, position, course, speed and other critical data. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution ushers in a new wave of smart digital, automated and autonomous technologies, it’s worth a reminder that longer established systems are playing a vital role in our brave new data-driven world – and indeed continue to actively develop and combine with other existing and emerging technologies.įor our blue ocean economy, world shipping, trade and supply chains, one such technology is the global vessel automatic identification system (AIS ) and, more specifically, satellite AIS (S-AIS).