International Journal

on Marine Navigation

and Safety of Sea Transportation

Volume 4

Number 2

June 2010

179

1 INTRODUCTION

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has

introduced an Automatic Identification System

(AIS) for the purposes of marine navigation. All sea-

going vessels making international voyages and

covered by Chapter V of SOLAS Convention (Safe-

ty of Life at Sea) have had to be equipped with AIS

since the end of 2004.

AIS technology is also applied in the automatic

recognition and control of vessel traffic in inland

waterways. In particular, results reached by AIS in

the scope of recognition in real time and the accessi-

bility of worldwide standards and guidelines are

helpful for safety protection in waterways.

The conformity of inland AIS with IMO SOLAS

AIS permits the direct exchange of information be-

tween sea-going and inland vessels moving in mixed

traffic zones.

2 PROPERTIES

AIS system applied for automatic recognition and

control of inland vessel traffic has the following

properties (Article 5 of Directive 2005/44/EC of the Europe-

an Parliament and of the Council on Harmonized River Infor-

mation Services (RIS) on Inland Waterways in the Communi-

ty)

− it is an IMO-introduced marine navigation system

that must be at the disposal of all vessels subject

to SOLAS convention,

− it permits information transmission directly from

ship to ship, ship to shore or shore to ship,

− it is a safety system fulfilling the high require-

ments in the range of availability, continuity and

reliability,

− it permits information transmission in real time,

directly between vessels,

− it is an autonomous system, without a main sta-

tion, and as such does not need a central for con-

trolling functioning,

− it was prepared based on international standards

and procedures conformed to Chapter V of SO-

LAS convention,

− it obtained a certificate as a system enhancing

safety of navigation,

− it is interoperational.

A universal inland AIS deck station, defined by

IMO, ITU (International Telecommunication Union)

and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commis-

sion) and recommended for inland shipping makes

use of SOTDMA access method (Self-Organizing

Time Division Multiple Access) in the marine VHF

range (Very High Frequency). AIS receives on in-

ternational VHF frequencies: AIS 1 (161.975 MHz)

and AIS 2 (162.025 MHz), and can also be switched

to other VHF ranges.

An inland AIS station is made up of the following

elements:

− sending-receiving VHF terminal (1 transmitter/2

receivers),

− GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) re-

ceiver,

− processor.

Inland vessel traffic control systems must con-

form to marine AIS created by IMO. This means

that the messages transmitted include the following

data: static information, dynamic information, voy-

Data Transmission in Inland AIS System

P. Wolejsza

Maritime University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland

ABSTRACT: The article presents the technical aspects of applying the marine Automatic Identification Sys-

tem (AIS) for the purposes of vessel traffic control in inland shipping. Functional properties and requirements

for inland AIS have been discussed as well as protocol alterations in relation to marine AIS, with particular

consideration of messages enhancing safety of navigation and the flow capacity of inland waterways.

180

age-related information and information characteris-

tic for inland shipping like: number of blue

cones/lights according to ADN/ADNR (European

Agreement concerning the International Carriage of

Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways) or the Ex-

pected Time of Arrival at

lock/bridge/terminal/border (ETA).

3 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Inland AIS is used for transmitting information

bound with vessel traffic control and safety of navi-

gation; therefore, the messages transmitted should

contain the following data (Commission Regulation (EC)

No 415/2007 of 13 March 2007 concerning the Technical

Specifications for Vessel Traffic Control Systems):

3.1 Static information

Static information given independently by a particu-

lar vessel or furnished at request:

− User identifier (MMSI - Maritime Mobile Service

Identifier)

− Vessel’s name

− Call sign

− IMO number * (unobtainable for inland vessels)

− Kind of ship and cargo * (altered for inland AIS)

− LOA (Length overall) (with decimetre accuracy)

* (altered for inland AIS)

− Breadth overall (with decimetre accuracy)* (al-

tered for inland AIS)

− Kind of vessel or combination (ERI - Electronic

Reporting International) (for inland AIS)

− Possible cargo (for inland AIS)

Positions marked with asterisk “*” are different

for inland and marine vessels and have been listed in

details in the chapter alterations in inland AIS pro-

tocol.

3.2 Dynamic information

Dynamic information on the ship has, in so far as

possible, the same parameters and the same structure

in the case of inland and sea-going vessels. Unused

parameters should be marked as “inaccessible”:

− Location (WGS 84)

− SMG (speed made good) * (qualitative infor-

mation) *

− CMG (course made good) (qualitative infor-

mation) *

− True course (qualitative information) *

− Speed of course alteration

− Accuracy of location (GNSS/DGNSS)

− Time of device for electronic determination of lo-

cation

− Navigational status

− Set of blue marks (for inland AIS) *

− Quality of information on speed (for inland AIS

/from deck sensor or GNSS)

− Quality of information on course (for inland AIS

/from deck sensor or GNSS)

− Quality of information on true course (for inland

AIS /from certified sensor (e.g. gyro) or non-

certified sensor)

3.3 Information on the voyage

Information on the voyage is given independently by

a particular vessel or furnished at request:

− Port of destination (ERI location code)

− Dangerous cargo category

− Expected Time of Arrival

− Maximum current static draft * (altered for inland

AIS)

− Classification of dangerous cargo (for inland

AIS)

3.4 Information on traffic management

Information on traffic management concerns exclu-

sively inland shipping and is transmitted as need

arises or at request, to or from inland vessels:

− Identifier of lock/bridge/terminal (UN/LOCODE

- United Nations Location Code) (for inland AIS)

− Expected Time of Arrival at lock/bridge/terminal

(for inland AIS)

− Number of tugs (for inland AIS)

− Vessel’s air draft (for inland AIS)

3.5 Information on the number of persons aboard

It is recommended that information on the number

of persons aboard should be passed on demand in

the case of the event happening in the form of ad-

dressed messages from ship to shore:

− Total number of persons

− Number of crew members (for inland AIS)

− Number of passengers (for inland AIS)

− Number of deck personnel (for inland AIS)

3.6 Information on signal status

Information on signal status is transmitted in the

form of shore to ship message:

− Signal location (WGS84) (for inland AIS)

− Signal forma (for inland AIS)

− Light signal status (for inland AIS)

3.7 EMMA (European Multiservice Meteorological

Awareness) warnings

EMMA warnings, information on water level and

safety messages are transmitted in the form of shore

181

to ship messages, in the form of addressed or sent

messages:

− Location (WGS 84) Local weather warnings (for

inland AIS)

− Local information on water levels (for inland

AIS)

4 ALTERATION IN INLAND AIS PROTOCOL

As platform for inland AIS, inland versions of port-

able class A stations are recommended or class B

“SO” stations with the application of SOTDMA

techniques. Class B “CS” stations using CSTDMA

(Carrier Sense Time Division Multiple Access)

techniques, on the other hand, cannot be used, as

they do not secure the same effects as class A or

“SO” B equipment. “CS” devices do not ensure suc-

cessful data transmission by radio, nor do they make

possible the transmission of messages on the pre-

sented technical specifications required for inland

AIS. As long as class B “SO” devices are inaccessi-

ble, class A versions are applied adapted to the

needs of inland shipping, in accordance with IMO

SOLAS regulation (IMO MSC.74(69) Annex 3 “Recom-

mendations on Performance Standards for a Universal Ship-

borne Automatic Identification System (AIS)” IMO (Interna-

tional Maritime Organisation) 1998

Function Identifiers (FI) for inland AIS are as-

signed and applied in accordance with recommenda-

tions ITU-R M.1371-1 Table 37B (Recommendation

ITU-R M.1371-1 – “Technical Characteristics for a

Universal Shipborne Automatic Identification Sys-

tem Using Time Division Multiple Access in the

VHF Maritime Mobile Band”. ITU (International

Telecommunication Union) 2001).

Each FI within the framework of inland AIS is to

be assigned to one of the following groups of appli-

cation areas:

− for general use (Gen),

− vessel traffic control system (VTS - Vessel Traf-

fic System),

− navigation support (A-to-N – Aid to Navigation),

− search and rescue (SAR – Search And Rescue).

4.1 Message FI 10

Static data on vessel and voyage are presented in ta-

ble 2 (only inland vessels make use of this message).

Table 2. Message FI 10 (Commission Regulation (EC) No

415/2007 of 13 March 2007 concerning the Technical Specifi-

cations for Vessel Traffic Control Systems)

__________________________________________________

Parameter Description

__________________________________________________

Unique European 8 signs in 6-bit ASCII code

vessel identification

number

Kind of vessel or ERI classification number: 1 Type of

combination ship and convoy, acc. to ANNEX E:

Types of ships acc. to ERI

Dangerous cargo Number of blue cones /lights 0–3;

4 = flag B,

5 = default value = unknown

Possible cargo 1 = loaded, 2 = unloaded,

0 = inaccessible/default value,

3 not applied

Quality of speed data 1 = high,

0 = low/GNSS = default value

Quality of course data 1 = high,

0 = low/GNSS = default value

Quality of true course 1 = high,

data 0 = low = default value

__________________________________________________

Table 1. FI for inland AIS (Commission Regulation (EC) No 415/2007 of 13 March 2007 concerning the Technical Specifications

for Vessel Traffic Control Systems)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FI Area Message name Sender Message Message Description

sent addressed

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 Gen Static data on Ship X See: Message

vessel and voyage FI10: Static data on vessel and voyage

21 VTS VTS Expected Ship X See: Message

Time of Arrival at lock/ FI21: Expected

bridge/terminal Time of Arrival at lock/bridge/terminal

22 VTS RTA – Shore X See: Message

Requested Time of Arrival FI22: RTA – Requested Time of Arrival

at lock/bridge/terminal at lock/bridge/terminal

23 VTS EMMA weather warning Shore X See: Message

FI23:EMMA weather warning

24 VTS Water levels Shore X See: Message 24:Water levels

40 A-to-N Signal status Shore X See: Message 40:Signal status

55 SAR Signal status Ship X X (best) See: Message

FI55: Number of persons on deck

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

182

4.2 Message FI 21: Expected Time of Arrival at

lock/bridge/terminal (ETA).

Within 15 minutes from sending the message, mes-

sage no. 22 should arrive, confirming reception. If

there is no such message, message no. 21 should be

repeated.

Table 3. Message FI 21 (Commission Regulation (EC) No

415/2007 of 13 March 2007 concerning the Technical Specifi-

cations for Vessel Traffic Control Systems)

__________________________________________________

Parameter Description

__________________________________________________

UN country code 2 signs

UN location code 3 signs

Fairway section number 5 signs

Terminal code 5 signs

Fairway hectometre 5 signs

Expected Time of Arrival Expected Time of Arrival:

at lock/ bridge/terminal MMDDGGMM UTC

Number of tugs 0–6, 7 = unknown = default value

Vessel’s air draft 0–4 000 with accuracy to

1/100m

__________________________________________________

4.3 Message FI 22: Requested Time of Arrival at

lock/bridge/terminal (RTA).

Messages about RTA for a given ship are transmit-

ted exclusively by base stations in answer to mes-

sage no. 21.

Table 4. Message FI 22 (Commission Regulation (EC) No

415/2007 of 13 March 2007 concerning the Technical Specifi-

cations for Vessel Traffic Control Systems)

__________________________________________________

Parameter Description

__________________________________________________

UN country code 2 signs

UN location code 3 signs

Fairway section number 5 signs

Terminal code 5 signs

UN country code 5 signs

Requested Time of Arrival Requested Time of Arrival:

at lock/ bridge/terminal MMDDGGMM UTC

Status of 0 = active

lock/bridge/terminal 1 = partly restricted service

(difficult technical conditions,

only one chamber available etc.)

2 = inactive, 3 = unavailable

__________________________________________________

4.4 Message FI 55

Information of number of persons aboard are pre-

sented in table 5.

Table 5. Message FI 55 (Commission Regulation (EC) No

415/2007 of 13 March 2007 concerning the Technical Specifi-

cations for Vessel Traffic Control Systems)

__________________________________________________

Parameter Description

__________________________________________________

Number of crew members 0–254 crew members,

aboard 255 = unknown = default value

Number of passengers 0–8 190 passengers,

aboard 8 191 = unknown = default value

Number of deck personnel 0–254 deck personnel,

aboard 255 = unknown = default value

__________________________________________________

4.5 Message FI 23: EMMA weather warning

EMMA weather warning is sent to vessel using

graphic symbols on ECDIS screen (Electronic Chart

Display and Information System). This message

serves the purpose of sending EMMA data by means

of AIS channel. This message is directed to all ves-

sels in a given zone and is transmitted exclusively by

base stations.

4.6 Message FI 24: Water levels

This message serves the purpose of informing mas-

ters about the current water level in the zone they are

in. It is short-term additional information about wa-

ter levels given by means of messages for masters.

The competent authority establishes the frequency of

updating. Data coming from more than 4 measuring

instruments can be transmitted by means of multiple

messages, which are directed to all vessels in a given

zone and are sent exclusively by base stations in

regular time intervals.

4.7 Message FI 40: Signal status

This message, directed to all vessels in a given zone,

is sent exclusively by base stations. Information on

light signalling is displayed as dynamic symbols on

an external ECDIS display. This message is sent in

regular time intervals.

5 RECAPITULATION

The main task of a VTS system is managing vessel

traffic in a designated area, including support of nav-

igation, traffic organisation, optimising the water-

way flow capacity, planning the functioning and

servicing of bridges or locks. AIS system in the in-

land version will ensure effective information ex-

change between all participants of inland transport,

thereby accelerating the transport process and in-

creasing its safety.

REFERENCES

Article 5 of Directive 2005/44/EC of the European Parliament

and of the Council on Harmonized River Information Ser-

vices (RIS) on Inland Waterways in the Community.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 415/2007 of 13 March 2007

concerning the Technical Specifications for Vessel Traffic

Control Systems.

IMO MSC.74(69) Annex 3 “Recommendations on Perfor-

mance Standards for a Universal Shipborne Automatic

Identification System (AIS)” IMO (International Maritime

Organisation) 1998.

Recommendation ITU-R M.1371-1 – “Technical Characteris-

tics for a Universal Shipborne Automatic Identification

System Using Time Division Multiple Access in the VHF

Maritime Mobile Band”. ITU (International Telecommuni-

cation Union) 2001.