Why you should get AIS on your boat
When was the last time you had a near miss with a commercial ship?
Or saw one that came just a little too close for comfort?
For many yachties, it was their first encounter also, unfortunately for some their last.
The ships dock with a white rag still draped over their bulbous bow.
"Remember, being alone on watch that night, the fright you got, when
this monstrous ship appeared, just out of nowhere"?
Well, it does not have to happen anymore.
Welcome to the world of AIS.
Every ship around the world transmits AIS data like : Their GPS position, speed, heading, size, name etc.
AIS is short for “Automatic Identification System”. A VHF based system used by all commercial shipping since 2004.
It detects any commercial ships within a 400+ square Mile area surrounding your position and warns you of their presence.
AIS informs you of their current GPS position, speed and course, so you can take action to avoid a possible collision. The data are updated Automatically every few seconds.
Every yacht can have access to this information by using their VHF radio.
For just NZ$97.- (That's about US $70.-) you can receive AIS data on your VHF.
Connect the radio to your laptop for tracking in real time to avoid a collision.
You should really read through the rest of the following text, to get some idea of the whole concept, but if you know it all or are in a hurry, get straight to the point.
A.I.S. is a display system that shows every commercial ship within your VHF-radio range on an LCD screen.
These data can be overlaid on electronic charts for your area.
Each ship that registers on screen indicates its: GPS Position, speed, Course, name, destination, call-sign, cargo, MMSI registration, its size and more.
Vector lines show their track for approx. the last 30 minutes.
AIS is better than radar and shows information without clutter on screen.
The LCD display shows security information, like: The closest point of approach, time to closest point of approach and other navigation information, more accurate than any radar plotter.
It works irrespective, whether rain or shine.
This information was previously only available to Vessel Traffic Management Centers
It is now available for every yacht/ship.
When installed, you will have the ability to call any ship on VHF by name, rather than by "Klingons off my Starboard Bow" or something similar.
The commercial version is a shipboard broadcast system that consists of a transponder, operating in the VHF marine band on the high side of duplex channels 87B and 88B.
These transponders are no doubt well within the means of ship owners, but rather beyond the financial capability of the average yachtie.
This website is about safety and saving money on commercial AIS equipment.
Why buy an other box of electronics;
These data can be overlaid on electronic charts for your area.
Each ship that registers on screen indicates its: GPS Position, speed, Course, name, destination, call-sign, cargo, MMSI registration, its size and more.
Vector lines show their track for approx. the last 30 minutes.
AIS is better than radar and shows information without clutter on screen.
The LCD display shows security information, like: The closest point of approach, time to closest point of approach and other navigation information, more accurate than any radar plotter.
It works irrespective, whether rain or shine.
This information was previously only available to Vessel Traffic Management Centers
It is now available for every yacht/ship.
When installed, you will have the ability to call any ship on VHF by name, rather than by "Klingons off my Starboard Bow" or something similar.
The commercial version is a shipboard broadcast system that consists of a transponder, operating in the VHF marine band on the high side of duplex channels 87B and 88B.
These transponders are no doubt well within the means of ship owners, but rather beyond the financial capability of the average yachtie.
This website is about safety and saving money on commercial AIS equipment.
Why buy an other box of electronics;
