Automatic identification system (AIS)

AIS is a self-organized VHF transponder system aimed at improving the safety of navigationon inland and maritime waterways.

Chapter V of the SOLAS Convention establishes that 

• ships with 300 GT and above engaged on international voyages
• cargo ships of 500 GT and above engaged on national voyages
• any passenger ships

have to be equipped with AIS.

All vessels that are equipped with AIS exchange automatically and continually information about the ship and its current maneuvering data with each other: identity of the ship, its exact position, course and speed, heading and rate of turn, navigational status (e.g. at anchor, restricted in ability to maneuver). This facilitates a better overview of the current traffic situation and contributes to collision avoidance. Especially during large volumes of traffic and poor visibility, the AIS has a clear advantage to radar, the interpretation of which requires a lot of experience and constant  observation.

Furthermore, AIS with its AIS land stations opens up new possibilities for Vessel Traffic Services (with traffic control), Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers or Maritime Casualty Investigation.

AIS Class A are included in the appendix to A.1 of the European Marine Equipment Directive; therefore, an EU approval is required. AIS Class B and AIS SART are not listed in appendix A.1 and thus receive a national approval. The compliance with relevant standards of AIS land stations, AIS AtoN and AIS Airborne is certified with a "Statement of Conformity". An approval of these AIS classes is not necessary since they are not used on ships.