User's Manual

5
1.3 Type of AIS
The marine Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a location and vessel information reporting
system. Some elements of AIS networks are illustrated in the following table:
Table 1-3 Type of AIS elements
Class A AIS
Transponder
‧ Transmits and receives AIS signal.
‧ Intended for vessels meeting the requirements of IMO AIS carriage
requirement.
‧ It is mandatory for all commercial vessels that exceed 300 tons to be
equipped with Class A AIS.
Class B AIS
Transponder
‧ Transmits and receives AIS signal.
‧ Not necessarily in full accord with IMO AIS carriage requirements.
‧ It is not mandatory for vessels to be equipped with Class B AIS.
‧ Suitable for recreational vessel, in enhancing its safety at sea.
AIS
Receiver
‧ Only receives AIS signal.
‧ Does not have transmitter to send out AIS signal.
‧ Suitable for recreational vessel that does not want to send out its vessel
information.
AIS AtoN
‧ AIS Aids to Navigation Station
‧ Transmits AIS AtoN signal.
‧ Receives .AIS AtoN signal. (Type 2 and Type 3 only)
‧ Capable of supporting synthetic and virtual AtoN.
‧ Can be installed in lighthouses, lanterns, buoys.
‧ Support lantern monitoring.
‧ Support meteorological and hydrological messages.