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AIS – the mariners perspective

Jillian Carson-Jackson, FNI, FRIN

Vice President, the Nautical Institute

Getting the Mariner’s Perspective Comments on AIS Conclusions/Challenges

Getting the mariners perspective

• NI Seagoing Correspondence Group

• NI Knowledge Library

• Linked-in discussion groups

• Feedback – national / regional

What are they saying – AIS general

• Overall, a positive contribution

• Data on MKD not effective – need to have on Radar, ECDIS

• Assists navigation – data is fallible, like any other data

mariners use

• Training inadequate – mostly ‘self-taught’

• Symbols confusing

• Errors in data – use information with a pinch of disbelief

• Overloading of AIS – reducing range of detection Great tool -

VTS, security, maritime infrastructure protection).

What are they saying – AIS AtoN?

• Excellent for highlighting missing AtoN, and for temporary purposes

such as demarcating temporary restricted areas.

• In many areas, AIS nav aids are adding little value - clutter displays.

• If properly setup and error free, can be very valuable tool

• Useful complement to existing piloting techniques

• Confusion over symbols; types and terms – physical / virtual /

synthetic.

• Who implements and verifies AIS AtoN / Virtual AtoN; who decides

to discontinue traditional AtoN?

• Great tool - ENC & ATON - dynamic data for buoy current,

lighthouses etc

Why establish an AtoN?

Each Contracting Government undertakes to

provide… such aids to navigation as the

volume of traffic justifies and the degree of

risk requires.

-- SOLAS Chapter V,

Regulation 13

USCG Survey (2014)

Smart Bridge

• Initiative from the USA to improve mariner’s situation awareness

with near real time information through AIS-AtoN messaging

• Focus on Lighting and other signals; AIS and sensor capabilities;

regulations and standards.

Eggners Ferry Bridge, Mississippi

Images courtesy of USCG

Smart Bridge concept

Image courtesy of USCG

Conclusions

• Generally good / positive response - especially from pilots who have

had influence over the placement and type of AIS AtoN

• Provides positive identification of physical AtoN when weather is not

good (heavy rain, fog, snow)

• AIS training in general is lacking – mariners are still ‘self-taught’

• AIS symbology and terminology confusing and not well understood

– specific comment re virtual / synthetic.

• There is a need to ensure AIS data is displayed on bridge

equipment – radar, ECDIS (MKD is not effective)

• Introduction of AIS AtoN most effective when ‘user led’ and concerns

over reduction of traditional AtoN need to be addressed

Challenges

• IMO Performance standards – not all equipment needs to display

AIS

• Terminology confusion – specifically ‘virtual’ and ‘synthetic’ – IMO

MSC.1/Circ.1473 (May 2014)

• Need for clear symbology – IMO SN/Circ.243 rev.1 (2014) IMO

SN/Circ.322; IEC 62288 and IHO Operational gap – documentation

being developed / technical capabilities / real-world implementation

• Overload of VHF Data Link – reduction of AIS range detection /

Cluttering of screen

• Education of users

• Promulgation / consistency in implementation

not be a burden to users but help safety of navigation

There is a time in the life of every problem when it

is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve…

Jillian Carson-Jackson, FNI, FRIN

Vice President, the Nautical Institute