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AIS RECEIVER
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About AIS
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is primarily used
for collision-risk management and navigation safety. It
automatically transmits and receives vessel information,
such as the vessel name, MMSI code, vessel type, position
data, speed, course, destination and more. Information is
exchanged among the vessels and/or base stations on the
VHF maritime mobile band. The information helps to identify
other nearby vessels or stations by displaying the received
data on a plotter or a radar screen.
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AIS Classes
There are 7 types of AIS stations, vessels, base stations,
Search and Rescue (SAR), Aids to Navigation (AtoN),
Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART), Man
OverBoard (MOB), and Emergency Position Indicating
Radio Beacon-AIS (EPIRB-AIS).
There are 2 classes of AIS units, which are installed on
vessels, Class A and Class B.
Under the Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) convention, all
SOLAS vessels, as described below, are required to install a
Class A AIS transponder:
• Upwards of 300 gross tonnage engaged on international
voyages.
• Passenger vessels, irrespective of size, engaged on
international voyages.
• Upwards of 500 gross tonnage not engaged on
international voyages.
A Class B AIS transponder is designed to be interoperability
with Class A units, but not to impact the Class A network.
Many commercial vessels, and some leisure craft, not
classified as requiring a Class A unit, choose to install a
Class B unit to avoid accidents at sea.
Other vessel
(Class A AIS)
Other vessel
(Class B AIS)
Vessel Information
Your vessel
(Class B AIS)
Base Station