Maritime Domain Awareness
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime environment that could affect the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States.
NAIS will greatly enhance MDA by improving:
- maritime security. NAIS capability will be used to monitor the normal movement of AIS-equipped vessel traffic in order to better identify anomalies and monitor the location and movement of vessels of a particular interest, including those which may present a threat as well as high-value vessels that may be threatened. NAIS will support broadcasting of safety warnings and government coordination of safety and security operations.
- Search and rescue (SAR) operations. During distress, it is often necessary to coordinate a response with private vessels that are in the vicinity of the incident. With the use of AIS track data, SAR coordinators can more easily identify, communicate, plan and work with other responding vessels to prosecute a SAR response. AIS-equipped vessels in distress in an area of AIS coverage will be easier to locate and identify through the capabilities provided by NAIS.
- Investigation of maritime incidents (such as collisions, groundings, criminal acts, and environmental accidents) by providing a detailed record of vessel positions and movement leading up to and during accidents.
Common Operational Picture
NAIS information will be displayed in the USCG national maritime Common Operational Picture (COP) and shared, along with correlated data and intelligence as appropriate, with other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal agencies. Unclassified portions of the COP will also be available to local port partners in support of security and safety operations. This information will be invaluable to agencies, such as Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as it will provide real-time location data on all major cargo and other commercial vessels in the maritime domain.