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AIS Buyer's Guide As expected, the recent mandate for an accelerated implementation of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) onboard ships and boats has rattled the marine manufacturer's proverbial Hornet Nest. Following are some recent product developments from some of the industry's leading companies. S.G. Brown A compact Automatic Identification System (AIS) has been added to the range of S.G. Brown marine equipment. The fully type-approved unit is self-con- tained and touted as the most compact AIS unit on the market. The complete AIS unit measures 6.5-in. wide, 7.4-in. deep and 3.4-in. high. When required the S G Brown/L3 Communications AIS unit can be supplied with any additional parts needed to make the unit fully com- pliant with ship operations in the U.S.. the St Lawrence Seaway and Panama Canal. Simrad Simrad offers the Type Approved Simrad AI70. AIS broadcasts core infor- mation over VHF channels. Simrad's AI70 also utilizes GPS and its Russian equivalent GLONASS for positioning information and is also equipped to han- dle the forthcoming European Global Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS). The Simrad AI70 is based on the Kongsberg Seatex AIS 100 system, which is already well proven in the off- shore markets. L-3 The L-3 AIS is a single box design with integral MKD. Its overall dimen- sions are 7.3 x 6.4 x 3.3 in. (18.4 x 16.2 x 8.2 cm). This single box includes a DSC controller, a pair of SOTDMA controllers, internal GPS, and integral MKD. Offered with an optional integrat- ed DGPS card and additional DGPS beacon receiver, the L-3 AIS provides DGPS positional information in the event of failure of the ship's primary DGPS system. Saab TransponderTech The Saab R4 AIS Vessel Transponder is the fourth generation of Saab AIS. The R4 AIS Class A Transponder System is type-approved by BSH with wheelmark, and complies with all inter- national standards for AIS ship systems. Saab TransponderTech was given type approval by BSH in Germany on their 4th generation of AIS, fulfilling the international standards and require- ments. Saab TransponderTech has to date sold more than 3.000 IMO compat- ible ship transponders. Marine Data Systems Marine Data Systems (MDS) was the first to be granted product approval by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S.. for it AIMS MIV Automatic Identification System (AIS). Prior to this. MDS has complied with all the AIS specifications and was awarded (Class A) Type Approval by BSH in Germany. Nauticast In preparation for the AIS push in 2004, Nauticast enjoyed a busy Autumn 2003, showing its AIS system to the European market at Europort. and the Asian market at Kormarine. In October the company announced that it had been acquired by the U.K.-based Chelton Ltd., a member of the Cobham pic Group. Nauticast will be managed by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based ACR Electronics, Inc., a member of the Chelton Group of Companies. The X- Pack DS was developed and designed by Nauticast and is manufactured exclu- sively by Siemens Austria. Nauticast considered the standards of associations such as the IMO, IALA, ITU. IHO. and IEC as minimal requirements for the X- Pack DS product development and decided to go beyond these standard requirements and develop their product further by designing it to anticipate not only today's, but also tomorrow's requirements. SAM Electronics SAM Electronics' European Wheelmark-accredited Debeg 3400 UAIS has also now been type-approved for GPS operation by the German Maritime & Hydrographic Agency (BSH). enabling it to be connected to all standard navigation equipment for pro- vision of 12-channel Differential GPS data — at no additional cost. Kongsberg The Kongsberg Seatex AIS 100 is positioned as a technical solution that enables the identification of other ves- sels and navaids fitted with the VHF based AIS technology. This can be either on a stand-alone display or on the ship's electronic chart and radar. The Seatex AIS 100 transponder is compact, designed to be easy to operate. The man-machine interface is provided using a Minimum Keyboard and Display (MKD) unit used for input of data to the transponder, displaying posi- tion information and reading and writing text messages. JRC The USCG and the FCC have awarded JRC's AIS system, the "JHS-180" Type Approval. Previously awarded Type Approvals by EU Wheelmark MED. UK. Japan and Industry Canada, this completes the Approval process for JRC's AIS system, making it available worldwide for most vessels complying with this new IMO requirement. JRC's JHS-180 is compliant with International Marine Organization (IMO) standards: IMO MSC Res.74 (69) Annex 3, ITU-R M. 1371-1. IEC61993-2, IEC60945 and others. The JRC JHS-180 AIS system allows for interface capabilities to Radar. ECDIS. ECS and VDR systems and future expansions. Equipped with a built-in automatic self-diagnostic func- tion and various interfaces, this system will prove to be a favorite for the ship owner. Furuno Furuno offers the FA 100 AIS. one of the first to be type accepted by the BSH, USCG and FCC. It satisfies all interna- tional and U.S. requirements. The FA 100 is capable of exchanging naviga- tion and ship data between your ship and other ships or coastal stations. It will send and receive static and dynamic data such as Maritime Mobile Service Identity. IMO number (where available), call sign and name, length and beam, type of ship, range and bearing, course and speed over ground, heading, rate of turn, hazardous cargo type and more. It will also receive voyage-related data and short safety related messages. Sailor Sailor UAIS 1900 is an integrated sys- tem with a 12-channel GPS and built-in VHF. To format the system so that it is operational, only a display system, such as the new KDU1905, a VHF antenna, a GPS antenna and power are needed. The new Keyboard Display Unit KDU1905 has a graphical display and the targets are either presented graphi- cally or listed alphanumerically. The KDU1905 has large buttons and comes with a large 40 x 24 lines backlit display. L;3 Skanti The SKANTI UAIS 2100 introduced in January 2003, is fully functional by just connecting it to a display system, a VHF and a GPS antenna and power. Its main features include: Wheelmark approval, built in 12-channel GPS and VHF, compact design, flexible installa- tion with just a few external connec- tions, and water-resistance to IP66. Obstek Safe Port from Observation Technologies is an integrated vessel traffic information system (VTIS) that combines radar, transponder, AIS and GPS inputs to create a composite dis- play of port activity on NOAA charts on a computer monitor. FREE INFORMATION To receive information on the products men- tioned in this report, simply check the appro- priate number on the Reader Service Card, found on page 56, of this edition. Furuno 47 Japan Radio 46 Kongsberg 50 L-3 41 Marine Data Systems 44 Nauticast 43 Obstek 51 Saab TransponderTech 42 Sailor 48 SAM Electronics 45 SG Brown 40 Simrad 39 Skanti 4 52 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
