The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a radio communication system used for exchanging navigational data between ships and between ships and shore-based stations. The system is based on technical and broadcasting standards jointly developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
I. Main Functions:
- Ship Identification and Positioning: Transmits and receives information such as a ship’s identity, position, heading, and speed via the VHF band, enabling automatic identification and tracking of other vessels.
- Navigation Safety: Enhances navigational safety between ships, provides collision avoidance support, and assists in monitoring and tracking other vessels.
- Data Exchange: AIS equipment can automatically or manually exchange dynamic, static, and navigational data from ship sensors with other vessels or shore-based stations.
- Electronic Chart Display System (ECDIS) Integration: AIS data can be displayed on radar or electronic chart display systems, allowing navigators to monitor the real-time positions and movements of surrounding vessels.
According to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), all international vessels with a gross tonnage (GT) of 300 tons or more, as well as all passenger ships, must be equipped with AIS (Automatic Identification System). In addition, non-international vessels, such as cargo ships of 500 tons or more, are also required to install AIS. These regulations, which came into effect in 2004, aim to improve maritime safety and efficiency.
II. AIS System Composition
An AIS system mainly consists of a VHF transmitter, a TDMA receiver, a DSC receiver, and a GPS receiver.
VHF Transmitter: Used to send and receive AIS messages.
TDMA Receiver: Two VHF time-division multiple access receivers used to receive different messages.
DSC Receiver: Used to receive specific instructions and participate in the Global Maritime Safety System (GMDSS).
GPS Receiver: Used to obtain precise location information.
III. AIS Types and Classifications
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a radio communication system used to improve maritime navigation safety and transparency. AIS equipment can be classified into several types according to different classification criteria.
- Class A and Class B Equipment
Class A: Suitable for large merchant ships, passenger ships, and vessels engaged in international voyages. These devices typically have high power output (12.5 watts), covering a wide range (approximately 40 nautical miles), and use Self-Organizing Time Division Multiple Access (SOTDMA) technology to avoid interference.
Class B: Suitable for smaller vessels, fishing boats, and non-commercial vessels. These devices have lower power and report at fewer frequencies, but still provide basic navigation information.
- Transceiver and Receiver Equipment
Transceiver: Can both transmit and receive data, suitable for applications requiring two-way communication.
Receiver: Used only for receiving data, typically installed in fixed locations such as shore-based stations or navigational aids.
- Other Specialized Equipment:
Base Station: Shore-based base stations used to enhance AIS signal coverage, primarily in inland waters and areas with complex terrain.
ATON (AIS AIDS TO NAVIGATION): A device installed on a buoy or other navigation facility to provide real-time hazard alerts and monitoring data.
SART (Search And Rescue Transmitter): A positioning beacon used in emergency situations, triggering an alarm via GPS location; commonly used in search and rescue operations.
Class A Marine AIS:
Class A Marine Automatic Identification System, with two operation modes of touch and button keys,
rich data interfaces, well compatible with electronic charts, radar and other marine electronic equipment;
simple and user-friendly operation interface combined with colorful LEDs, making its operation more intuitive; supporting high-precision positioning; and at the same time, it can provide 19 kinds of intelligent alarms to provide collision avoidance information in real time.
Product performance：
- Class A ship automatic identification system has two operation modes: touch and push button.
- With ECDIS, remote, BAM, multifunctional sensors and other interfaces, it is well compatible with electronic charts, radar and other marine electronic equipment.
- Simple and humanized operation interface combined with high-precision color LED.
- Support high-precision positioning, support BDS, GPS dual-mode high-precision positioning, and can be connected to differential data to realize differential positioning.
- A variety of intelligent alarms, real-time collision avoidance information
- Designed and manufactured according to the latest international norms and standards Complies with IMO MSC.302(87), ITU-R.M.1371-5, IEC 62288, IE61993-2 2018 and IEC 60945 standards.
- AIS launch is divided into three launch modes: autonomous, assigned, and polled.
- Capable of receiving AIS targets and transmitting static and dynamic parameters and related navigational data of the ship.
- The AIS radar panel can switch different viewing angles to display AIS targets within 50NM from the center of the ship.
- Time slot synchronization, using the built-in GNSS receiver or external positioning sensors as the main source of UTC, can also be used to synchronize the time slot with the messages received from the base station or mobile station.
- Access to a wide range of sensors such as GNSS positioning sources, odometers, compasses, steering rate indicators, etc.
- There are BIIT self-test and 19 alarms for equipment failure, position loss, bow direction loss, etc.
- Area setting, support receiving message 22 sent by base station or DCS remote message setting, also can set system receiving and transmitting through shipboard system or manually input in MKD.
Technical parameters：
| Power source | DC24V |
| Class | ClassA |
| Bandwidth | 25KHz |
| Modulation scheme | GMSK |
| Bit rate | 9600bps |
| Frequency | 156.025MHz～162.025MHz |
| AIS TX Channel/Frequency | AIS1(CH87B):161.975MHzAIS2(CH88B):162.025MHz |
| AIS RX Channel/Frequency | AIS1(CH87B):161.975MHzAIS2(CH88B):162.025MHz |
| DSC RX Channel/Frequency | 70/156.525MHz |
| Receiving sensitivity | Better than -107dBm |
| Frequency Error | ＜±500hz |
| RF out Power | 1W/12.5W |
| GNSS RX Frequency | BDS:B1I：1561.098MHz |
| GPS：L1 1575.42MHz | |
| Interface | BAMPILOT PLUGData output x 3ECDIS: Bidirectional data interfaceLONG RANGE: bidirectional data interfaceDGNSSSensor data input x 3 |
| Performance Standard Compliant | IEC 61993-2 2018R-REC-M.1371-5-2014IMO MSC.74（69）IMO MSC.302（87）IEC 62923-1IEC 62923-2IEC 62288 -2021IEC61162-1IEC61162-2IEC60945 |
| MKD Display | 7inch or 10.1 inch options |
| Display language: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English |
Class B Marine AIS:
GNSS (GPS,Galieo,BDS), Chart, Tide, Compass, etc, Internal AIS，can be connected with echo sounder, fish finder and wireless AIS fishing net buoy ,Flash quick start technology, stable performance.
Product performance：
●Built-in high sensitivity GNSS receiver board with accurate positioning, adopting advanced and independent R&D technology of high stable navigational speed and course
●Support GNSS (GPS,Galieo,BDS) Accurate positioning
●GNSS,Chart,Tide,Compass,etc,Internal AIS，can be connected with echo sounder,fish finder and wireless AIS fishing net buoy ,Flash quick start technology,stable performance
●Autonomous access the AIS wireless network after power on, T9 numeric keypad and shortcut keys, supports pinyin and stroke Chinese character input, comfortable usage
●Aerospace-grade, all time professional true-colour TFT LCD,suitable for navigation in the sun and at night;
●Rapidly update by external SD card that is fully supported the system, chart and the update of the extended functions.
●CERTIFICATED of Marine Product(Class-B) by China Classification Society (CCS) ; Comply to AIS Class-B shipborne equipment standard (IEC 62287-1)
●Certified by Register of Fishing Vessel of The Peopleˊs Republic of China
Technical parameters：
| Model | AIS-X12/X15/X17/I12/I15/I19 |
| Power Supply | DC24V（11-35V） |
| Power | High-performance, full isolated, PWM control of power supply |
| Installation | Bracket or Embedded |
| Power Consumption | ≤20W |
| Display Unit | |
| Type | 19” |
| Resolution | 1280*1024PX |
| Language | Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English,Customable |
| Navigation Characteristics | |
| Data Storage | Waypoints: 6000 Marks: 10000 Routes: 400(48 waypoints/route) Tracks≤1600(points≤20000) |
| Data Display | Suspension data: Information of ship’s latitude and longitude, fish zone, speed, course; Navigation information |
| Other Function | Tide and Compass Interface; AIS Display and Alarm, AIS Message, Vessel Management(If input AIS) |
| GNSS Characteristics | |
| Receive Type | GNSS (GPS,Galieo,BDS) |
| Acquisition Time | Cold start：32s，Hot start：1s |
| Accuracy | Horizontal 25m（95%） Vertical 30m（95%） |
| Interface | |
| Input/Output | (NMEA,GGA,GLL,GSA,RMC,VTG,AIS:VDM、VDO) |
| SD Card | Update software and chart, import and export data |
| AIS Performance | |
| Frequency | AIS：87B/161.975MHz AIS2:88B/162.025MHz |
| Bandwidth | 25KHz |
| Output Power | 2W |
| Modulation | GMSK |
S120 Satellite compass：
– CCS CERTIFICATE
– MED CERTIFICATE
– High precision and stability (0.4° RMS) of heading
Product Details：
IMO Type-approved as THD, GPS. Complying with the IEC, ISO requirements.
Product Usage
This product is a navigation instrument for measuring the heading of a ship. It provides shipowners with accurate heading and position information, speed heading information, and realizes ship motion state information display and early warning.
The satellite compass contains MED and CCS certificate and uses the principles of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide highly accurate and precise heading data and positioning data for a variety of marine navigation equipment.
Product performance：
- Pre-type carrier phase decoding technology for more precise direction;
- Utilizes GNSS such as Beidou, GPS, and Galileo for high precision attitude;
- Advanced speed and course filtering technology to make the data more stable;
- Built-in gyro compensation system has better heading performance;
- It features fast startup, signal recapture capability, heading updates at up to 50 times per second, and the turning tracking rate up to 90°/s;
- Multi-channel standard NMEA0183 output, providing high-stability, high-precision ship heading data and positioning data for Radar, ARPA, ECDIS, AIS, Chart Plotter, Autopilot, Sonar and other marine navigation equipment;
- Excellent industrial product design, stylish appearance, easy installation;
- Maintenance free and no recurring cost as there are no mechanical parts;
- This device is not affected by water temperature or salinity; In complex sea conditions, precautions should be taken against strong winds and heavy rain.
- CCS type approval
- MED CERTIFICATE
Technical parameters：
1. General
| 1.1 Receiving frequency | GPS/GALILEO/BEIDOU |
| 1.2 Heading accuracy | |
| S120 | 0.2°RMS |
| 1.3 Heading resolution | 0.1°,0.01°(0.01° requires contact your dealer) |
| 1.4 Rate of Turn | 90°/s |
| 1.5 Position fixing time | less than 2min |
| 1.6 Attitude accuracy | Pitch/Roll: 0.3°RMS |
| 1.7 Power supply | DC11-32V |
2. Interface
| 2.1 Number of port | |
| IEC61162(NMEA0183) | IEC61162-2: 2 port, IEC61162-1: 2 port |
| AD-10 | 2 port, for heading output |
| BAM/INS | 2 port |
| 2.2 Data port/Alert port | |
| Input | ACN, HBT |
| Output | ALC, ALF, ARC, HBT, HDT, RMC, ROT, THS, HCRGBS*, GGA*, GLL*, GNS*, GRS*, GSA*, GST*, GSV*, HDG*, VTG*, ZDA*, |
| 2.3 Output proprietary sentences | SHR* |
Note: output the sentence with * requires contact your dealer.
3.Environmental conditions
| 3.1 Ambient temperature | |
| Antenna unit | -25 ℃ to 70 ℃ |
| Junction box | -15 ℃ to +55 ℃ |
| 3.2 Relative humidity | 95% or less at +40 ℃ |
| 3.3 IP protection | |
| Antenna unit | IP56(Exposed) |
| Junction box | IP20(Protected) |
| 3.4 Vibration | IEC 60945 Ed.4 |
4.System configuration:
5.Equipment List:
| Product model | Antenna unit | Data processing and display unit(Junction box for short) |
| S120 | 1 | 1 |
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