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Aug 14, 2009 AIS: Beyond ship-to-shore communication Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology was mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for carriage on SOLAS vessels weighing 300gt and up, beginning in 2004. This mandate has resulted in new technology for both tracking and communication purposes. AIS is an integral component of every modern VTS installation; it is also a key component of every modern integrated bridge. AIS has been installed on AtoNs worldwide. This provides real time AtoN off-position warnings, critical weather information, and AtoN light and racon status. The IMO has recently allowed for the introduction of AIS into SART beacons, enabling any SOLAS vessel to be a potential search and rescue vessel.

Port Security

With the increasing use of AIS, the technology has become an important tool for port security. The AIS used by the United States Coast Guard and other law enforcement branches has been enhanced so that it is capable of fully interacting with the AIS network while providing secure communications between assets. This enables these vessels to track all AIS traffic and, when necessary, to eliminate their own AIS track.

From PTI 41 page 38. Read the full article here.