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TECHNOLOGY

Credit: Fishin’ Frenzy “We have seen the use of AIS in general increasing as both leisure and commercial users discover it is a tremendous bene? t to have this new level of safety in addition to other equipment such as an EPIRB or radar, for use as both a safety and navigational tool and also as a potential aid for search and rescue. It is particularly important during night ? shing offshore or for anyone on the water at night or during times of poor visibility or squally weather.

Instead of just seeing lights in the distance, AIS enables vessels to see and identity other boats, check their course and movements and therefore establish whether they are in danger.” – George Poveromo, ACR offshore spokesperson and saltwater ? sherman

Regulatory Review if you are not required to have AIS,

The USCG’s new AIS rules and re- you will want to have it because of quirements are intrinsic to the interna- the broader situational awareness it tional development of E-Navigation, provides, which in turn not only en- an effort adopted by the International hances your navigation safety, it will

Maritime Organization (IMO) and increase ef? ciency and reduce costs.” the International Association of Ma- He continued, “The ultimate goal of rine Aid to Navigation and Lighthouse e-Navigation efforts and the new AIS

Authorities (IALA). As the USCG’s requirements in the US is to use timely regulatory project of? cer and subject and reliable information to make the matter expert for AIS, Jorge Arroyo US Marine Transportation System op- has served the USCG for 30 years, the erate better. The aim is to provide tools last 16 years as a program and manage- that enable and improve the transfer of ment analyst at the Of? ce of Naviga- near real-time data between and among tion Systems at USCG Headquarters. ships and shore facilities, and that in-

He told MarineNews, “The AIS tegrates and transforms that data into regulations implement both the inter- decision and action information.” national Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Convention and domestic (Marine Bene? ts of AIS

Transportation Security Act of 2002) The installation of AIS transceivers

AIS carriage mandates. However, even on more commercial vessels will pro- 41 www.marinelink.com MN

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