Automatic Identification System
Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a way for a ship to use a radio to tell other ships about it's position. It sends messages every few seconds. These are received other ships and by stations on land and on some satellites. A ship knows its position by using Global Positioning System (GPS). Since 2004, all ships above 300 tons and all passenger ships have to use AIS.[1] AIS was made to avoid ships colliding.
-
A ship can see where other ships are (this is the English Channel) -
A person on land can tell ships where to go
References
- ↑ Regulations for carriage of AIS from International Maritime Organization.