Page 19: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2003)

Goverment Update better than that of radar due to the longer wavelength of AIS. Thus, it is possible to obtain an AIS report before the true radar image appears on the radar screen.

The usual range of AIS is 20 n.m.

The shipboard AIS unit broadcasts the following information every two to 10 seconds while underway and every three minutes while at anchor: • The unit's maritime mobile identity (MMSI), a unique identifier for each ship radio unit, assigned by the

International Telecommunications

Union (ITU). • The navigation status of the ship (e.g., underway using engine, at anchor, not under command). • Rate of turn. • Speed over ground. • Position accuracy. • Longitude and latitude. • Course over ground. • True heading. • Time stamp.

In addition, the AIS unit broadcasts the following information every six minutes: • MMSI number. • Ship's IMO number. • Ship's radio call sign. • Name of ship (up to 20 characters). • Type of ship and cargo. • Dimensions of ship (in meters). • Location on ship where the refer- ence point for position reports is located. • Type of position fixing device uti- lized by ship. • Draft of ship (in meters). • Destination of ship (at master's dis- cretion). • Estimated time of arrival (ETA) at destination (at master's discretion).

The U.S. Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) has developed informal guidance regarding approval of AIS installations on U.S.-flag ships, but it has not yet promulgated its regulations. Likewise, the U.S.

Coast Guard has issued informal guidance describing the certification process for AIS and other navigation equipment mandated by the SOLAS

Convention. Until those two agen- cies promulgate their regulations,

AIS approval for U.S. ships will remain an ad hoc process. Type approvals have recently been issued, though, by the FCC and the Coast

Guard for two commercial AIS sys- tems.

Deadlines

There are at least four separate sets of deadlines for use of AIS. • For ships entering the St. Lawrence

Seaway in North America, use of AIS

June 2003 was required as of the commencement of the 2003 navigation season, March 31, 2003. Portable AIS units are avail- able for rent by ships not having AIS permanently installed. • For ships transiting the Panama Canal, use of AIS will be required as of July 1, 2003. As with the St. Lawrence Seaway, portable AIS units will be available for rent by ships not having AIS permanent- ly installed. • For ships operating in U.S. waters, installation and use of AIS will be required in accordance with the follow- ing schedule:

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