How AIS is making sea traffic management easier
The management of vessels travelling our oceans, seas and waterways carrying 90% of the world’s cargo is a difficult operation, unlike air traffic control there is no worldwide, coordinated system in place within the maritime industry. This has led to the development of Sea Traffic Management (STM) to guide and monitor sea traffic in a manner similar to air traffic management. The project is financed by the EU research and innovation projects with several European partners in academia, governmental bodies and the maritime industry.
Automatic Identification System (AIS) enables STM to work efficiently, helping to avoid groundings and collisions, supports port scheduling and enabling bunkering. All of this contributes to reduced emissions and more efficient transport of cargo around the world. AIS provides the identification of vessels, location, course, and speed in addition the ability to provide data from the vessel to shore operations.
In 2018 the first satellites were launched into orbit that were equipped to receive AIS messages from vessels with an AIS transponder. The satellites were able to turn this information into data that formed a display showing the name, position, course and speed of any AIS vessels around the world. AIS forms the foundation of the STM system, enabling vessels and personnel on shore to make real time decisions improving the safety and efficiency of shipping, huge steps forward are expected to be made by the year 2030.