ANNEX 3
RECOMMENDATION ON PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR AN UNIVERSAL SHIPBORNE AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM(AIS)
1 Scope
1.1 These performance standards specify the requirements for the universal AIS.
1.2 The AIS should improve the safety of navigation by assisting in the efficient navigation of ships, protection of the environment, and operation of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), by satisfying the following functional requirements :
.1 in a ship-to-ship mode for collision avoidance;
.2 as a means for littoral States to obtain information about a ship and its cargo; and
.3 as a VTS tool, i.e. ship-to-shore (traffic management).
1.3 The AIS should be capable of providing to ships and to competent authorities, information from the ship, automatically and with the required accuracy and frequency, to facilitate accurate tracking. Transmission of the data should be with the minimum involvement of ship's personnel and with a high level of availability.
1.4 The installation, in addition to meeting the requirements of the Radio Regulations, applicable ITU-R Recommendations and the general requirements as set out in resolution A.694 (17), should comply with the following performance standards.
2 Functionality
2.1 The system should be capable of operating in a number of modes:
.1 an "autonomous and continuous" mode for operation in all areas. This mode should be capable of being switched to/from one of the following alternate modes by a competent authority;
.2 an "assigned" mode for operation in an area subject to a competent authority responsible for traffic monitoring such that the data transmission interval and/or time slots may be set remotely by that authority; and
.3 a "polling" or controlled mode where the data transfer occurs in response to interrogation from a ship or competent authority.
