AIS Fishing Net Buoys is not AIS
What is AIS? AIS is an important maritime navigation safety communications system intended to limit maritime accidents by automatically broadcasting and exchanging marine vessel information – including a vessel's identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status, and other safety-related information – between and among AIS-equipped shore stations, aircraft, and other vessels. AIS also facilitates ship monitoring and tracking by the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) and other maritime authorities. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Coast Guard require certain self-propelled cargo, passenger, and commercial vessels to carry AIS equipment. FCC rules specify that AIS equipment may operate only over assigned frequencies 156.775 MHz, 156.825 MHz, 161.975 MHz, or 162.025 MHz (AIS frequencies)
AIS equipment must be certified. Equipment that uses AIS frequencies must be properly certified to ensure compliance with the FCC’s technical rules. This certification requirement ensures that equipment that intentionally emits radio waves complies with technical requirements to avoid interference with federal government operations, private licensed operations, and other authorized equipment. AIS equipment that does not comply with the technical requirements cannot be certified and thus cannot be advertised, sold, or used. Certified equipment is labeled with an FCC Identifier. The only devices currently authorized under the FCC’s rules to use AIS frequencies are Class A and B shipborne equipment, AIS Search and Rescue Transmitters, and Maritime Survivor Locating Devices. The FCC, with the concurrence of the Coast Guard, certifies these four types of AIS devices for compliance with applicable FCC, Coast Guard, and international
Devices that operate in the AIS frequencies and are advertised to mark and track commercial and recreational fishing nets and other equipment are not certified and should not be used. Such devices, which are often advertised as “AIS Fishing Net Buoys,” can transmit a vessel identification signal without essential navigational safety information. This can have a serious detrimental effect on maritime safety, hampering the situational awareness of maritime operators and endangering ships relying on AIS to avoid collisions and allisions at sea. Article cited in FCC regulations.
Therefore, please confirm whether AIS devices are FCC equipment before purchasing, so as to avoid the huge fines. If you want to buy a Marine VHF radio with AIS feature, please comment below or email us info@retevismarine.com.
