Technology and Applications of

Automatic Identification System (AIS)

and Voyage Data Recorder (VDR)

Ocean Systems Inc.

SOCP Presentation

March

Contents

What are AIS and VDR ?

Why have AIS and VDR ?
Carriage requirements by IMO and USCG
Technology of AIS and its implications

Distance limitation
Not all ships carrying AIS
Different Data sources (Gyro, GPS SOG vs SOW)

Technology of VDR and its implications

Data, bridge audio, radar video

Protected Data Capsule
Applications to improve Maritime safety as well as efficiency
of ship operations.

What is AIS

Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a Shipboard broadcast transponder system

Operates in the VHF maritime band

Automatically sends ship information such as identification, position, heading, length, beam, type,
draught, and other safety-related information, to other ships as well as to shore based stations

Short navigation safety messages to be transmitted either to a specific ship or to all ships in the area

The effective range will depend on antenna heights similar to VHF communications and radar horizons.
In most cases, at least a twenty-mile range can be expected

What is VDR

Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) is a Shipboard Black Box recoding system

Records navigation, rudder, engine and alarm data
Records Bridge conversation, VHF radio communication
Records radar video images
Retains minimum of 12 hours of recording in a Protected Data Capsule (PDC)
Protected Data Capsule is fixed on the ship and will survive 6K meters deep sea immersion and 1100 deg
C high temperature fire for one hour
Same criteria applies for float-free version

Why have AIS and VDR

There can be no doubt that AIS will enhance safety at sea, the efficiency of navigation and the

protection of the marine environment. With the implementation of AIS as a supplement to existing
navigational systems on board ships there will be a significant impact on the marine industry over
the next few years.

The purpose of a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) is to maintain a store, in a secure and retrievable
form, of information concerning the position, movement, physical status, command and control of
a vessel over the period leading up to, and following, an incident having an impact thereon. This
information is for use during any subsequent investigation to identify the cause(s) of the incident.

Who need AIS

Type of ships

IMO
US
SOLAS Chapter V Security Act 11/02

New Ships
(>300 tons)

Date of build

Date of build

Tanker/Passen.
(Internation)

1/7/2003 to
31/12/2004

1 July 2003

Other Ships
(International)

1 July 2004

1 December 2004

Other Ships
(Domestic)

1 July 2004- 1
July 2008

1 December 2004

Who need VDR

Type of
Ships

IMO
(New)

IMO
(Existing)

European Union
(New & Exist)

Passenger

1 July
2002

1 January
2004

1 February
2003

Ro-Ro

1 July
2002

1 July
2002

1 February
2003

High Speed 1 July

2002

1 July
2002

1 February
2003

All others 1 July

> 3000 tons 2002

To be
Determined

To be
Determined

AIS Information Exchange Summary

Dynamic data

MMSI number
Position
(latitude/longitude
in WGS 84)
Course and speed
over ground
Heading
Rate of turn
Navigational status
Position accuracy
Time stamp

Static data

MMSI number
IMO Number
Name of the
ship
Call sign
Length and
Beam
Type of Ship
Location of the
GPS antenna on
the ship

Voyage Related
Data

Ships draught
Type of cargo
Destination
Estimated time of arrival
(Waypoints)
(Number of persons onboard)

Short Safety Related

Messages

AIS reporting rates

Type of Ship

Report Rate

At anchor

3 minutes

0-14 knots

12 seconds

0-14 + course 4 seconds

14-23 knots

6 seconds

14-23 + course 2 seconds

>23 knots

3 seconds

>23 + course

2 seconds

Dynamic data see table

Static and voyage
related data updated every
6 minutes or on request
Automatic polling from
shore station without user
action
Maximum safetyrelated message is 158
characters

Technology of AIS and its implications

Display AIS information on a radar display promises to be a
significant enhancement for situation awareness, providing
the navigator with graphical information about targets
Automatically performs dangerous target calculations
(CPA/TCPA) without operator intervention, rather than
needing a target to be manually selected for ARPA tracking
AIS targets entering a guard zone will similarly raise an
alarm
Not all ships has this new and untried AIS.
Range depends on antenna height (typically 20-30 Nmiles)
Transmitted information is only as good as the available
sensor. SOG reported by GPS is not consistent with SOW
used in ARPA radar.

Dangerous Activated AIS Target

ARPA Target

Activated AIS Target

Sleeping AIS Target

AIS target information display on ECDIS

AIS Infrastructure Concept

Regional
VTS

NAIS Node
Network

AIS

Network
Node

NAIS Node

Sat Term

AIS

IP Network
IP Network
Network node eliminates
any repeater duplicates

Sat Term

NAIS Node

AIS

NAIS Node

Repeater

Network

AIS

Sat Term

Sat Term
NAIS Node

NAIS Node

AIS

Network

AIS

Network

Network
Node

AIS
AIS
Port VTS
AIS

AIS

Shipping
Agencies

NAIS Node

AIS

Other data

Network

IP Network

Network
Node

Weather data
AIS
AIS

NAIS Node
AIS

Other
National
Users

Network
Regional SRS

What is VDR

Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) is a Shipboard Black Box recoding system

Records navigation, rudder, engine and alarm data
Records Bridge conversation, VHF radio communication
Records radar video images
Retains minimum of 12 hours of recording in a Protected Data Capsule (PDC)
Protected Data Capsule is fixed on the ship and will survive 6K meters deep sea immersion and 1100 deg
C high temperature fire for one hour
Same criteria applies for float-free version

Technology of VDR and its implications

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Interface with Non-standard shipboard

equipments
Shipboard wiring
Digital vs Analog interfaces
Real-time and replay functions
Recording data more than 12 hours
Remote data access and monitoring
Privacy concerns
Fixed on ship vs float free version

Typical shipboard data interfaces

Serial : GPS, Echo Sounder, Gyro, Engine, Alarm,

Door Monitoring systems (RS232, RS422, RS485
interface with NMEA 0183 format or variations of)
CANBUS, MODBUS and other proprietary protocols
Slow Analog : Rudder Angle, order/response
+10V, 4-20mA
Fast Analog : Motion, stress time history
Digital : On/Off status for alarm, doors etc.
Audio : Voice and VHF communications
Video : Post-processed High Resolution
Radar video screens, CCTV

OSI Data Solution

Ethernet based data acquisition system for

ease of expansion and trouble shoot

Opto-isolated input to protect equipment
and sensors
Cost-effective solution allowing multiple
type of interface modules (serial, analog,
digital) on the same controller rack.
All data saved in NMEA0183 format along
with the configuration file

OSI Audio solution

Standard Sound Blaster compatible PCI

soundboards.
Weather resistant microphone and speaker
package.
Custom designed microphone/speaker with line
level output for greater distance and sensitivity.
Four 3 to 1 mixers can handle 9 microphones and
3 VHF inputs into 2 stereo channels on the sound
board
Real-time FFT for easy setup and microphone test
Password protected replay of recorded voice

OSI Video Solution

Utilizes Hi-Definition video capture board used in

medical imaging
Captures virtually any type of video source up to
4000x4000 pixels
Pre-calibrated video parameter files for different
types of radar
Proprietary lost-less high compression
algorithm for radar images
Optional video switching to capture up to 4 video
sources

OEM Protected Data Capsule (PDC)

DnV Type Approved

Robust design for shipboard use

1100 Deg C fire for 1 hour
260 Deg C fire for 10 Hours
1.5-6.0 G bytes memory
128,000 Hrs MTBF, 10 year data
retention period
Bit error rate <1 in 10^14
Read/write as Networked Hard
Drive with password protection
30 minute download 1.5 Gbyte
over 10-100Tbased Ethernet
NETBEUI or TCP/IP protocol

OEM VDR System

Custom designed wall
mounted PC accommodating
current and future Intel
Motherboards
Fully vibration isolated
Dual high speed fan for
cooling
600H x 550W x 200D mm
lockable steel cabinet
Multiple video switch PCB
Audio PCB for channel
mixing and speaker testing

Voyage Data Recorder

Systems Diagram
IMO Voyage
Data
Recorder
(Server)

Internet
Service
Provider

VDR Comm Manager

Workstation (Option)
INMARSAT A/B
Cellular, Mini M
Protected
Data
Capsule
(PDC)

Opto-isolated Data
Acquisition

Modem/Serial/Router

P u b lic IS D N
N e tw o rk

VDR

Playback
Central Alarm
Performance
Fuel Track
Weather
File Transfer
Data Base

LES

WAN

TCP/IP
EMAIL

Audio / VHF
Communication
Head
Office

Serial, Analog (Volt/mA),

Digital

Radar
Video

Other
Videos

PLAYBACK
Station

VDR Replay Software and

Potential Applications

Window based Client-Server application

Multiple Windows for Data Chart, Map, Radar,
and configurable Conning displays
Real-time data, audio, video (bandwidth
permitting) as well as replay capabilities
Remote Download of Audio, Data, and Video
from Server as well as Protected Data Capsule
Real-time output of selected NMEA sentences to
drive other equipment or displays such as ECDIS
Engine alarm and conditioning monitoring
Safety and Efficiency Analysis

References and Websites

IMO SOLAS Convention Chapter V

IMO MSC. 74(69), annex 3 for AIS
IMO Resolution A 861. VDR standard
IEC 61993 (AIS), IEC 61996 (VDR)
Performance and Testing Requirements
IEC 60945 Shipboard Equipment
ITU-R M.1371, ITU Radio Regulations
iala-aism.org; mcga.gov.uk; uscg.mil
mitags@informz.net;; iec.org; rtcm.org
(Navigation Equipment Guide)