AIS Transponders

December 2001 (Updated December 2002)

(Sea Venture Volume 20)

Regulation 19 of the new SOLAS Chapter V - Carriage Requirements for Shipborne Navigational Systems and Equipment - sets out navigational equipment to be carried on board ships, according to ship type. Most equipment (gyrocompass, radar etc) was already required under the existing Chapter V, but the new regulation adds a requirement for carriage of automatic identification systems (AIS) capable of providing information about the ship to other ships and to coastal authorities automatically.

The regulation requires AIS to be fitted aboard all ships of 300 GT and upwards engaged on international voyages, cargo ships of 500 GT and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships, irrespective of size, built on or after 1 July 2002. It also applies to ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, according to the following timetable:

Vessel Type

Compliance No Later than

Passenger Ships

1 July 2003

Tankers

First survey for safety equipment on or after 1 July 2003

Ships, other than passenger ships and tankers:

 

50,000 GT and above

1 July 2004

10,000 GT and above but less than 50,000 GT

1 July 2005*

3,000 GT and above but less than 10,000 GT

1 July 2006*

300 GT and above but less than 3,000 GT

1 July 2007*

Ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, will have to fit AIS not later than 1 July 2008. A flag State may exempt ships from carrying AIS when ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date.

Performance standards for AIS were adopted in 1998. The new regulation requires that AIS shall:

• provide information - including the ship's identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety-related information - automatically to appropriately equipped shore stations, other ships and aircraft;
• receive automatically such information from similarly fitted ships;
• monitor and track ships;
• exchange data with shore-based facilities.¹

*Update (December 2002)

Following a Diplomatic Conference of SOLAS contracting states in December 2002 compliance dates have been brought forward: For ships, other than passenger ships and tankers from 300 GT up to (but not including) 50, 000 GT AIS is to be fitted not later than the first safety equipment survey after 1 July 2004 or by 31 December 2004, whichever occurs earlier. Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in operation at all times except where international agreements, rules or standards provide for the protection of navigational information. (For more on the Diplomatic Conference, which adopted amendments to SOLAS to implement a new maritime security regime (including the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code), click here.)

¹ This article is based on information given in IMO briefings 28 and 29 2000 on the MSC 73^rd Session, 27 November – 6 December 2000.