NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARINE PRODUCTS VIA U.S. COAST GUARD AIS Broadcast

Beginning September 11, 2008, the Tampa Bay Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service began broadcasting Automatic Identification System (AIS) test messages to select test participants in the area via standard AIS channels. These broadcasts—originating from MMSI 003660471—are less than ½ second in duration, and, should not impact other AIS users in the area. However, should they, please notify the U.S. Coast Guard's AIS Problem Report or by calling the U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Information Service (NIS) watchstander at (703) 313-5900.

This is the first phase of a Coast Guard Research & Development Center project to develop, design and evaluate the most efficient means by which mariners can receive critical real-time navigation safety information through the use of AIS and its binary messaging capability. The first phase of the project will directly access Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) quality checked data from National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) servers, and, repackage it for AIS transmission. These broadcasts will commence at 1100 on 11 September 2008 and every 6th minute thereafter, i.e. 11:06:00 a.m., 11:12:00 a.m., etc.

Sometime mid-2009, testing will expand to include the broadcasts of other critical navigation safety information, such as waterway closures, wreck markings, high wind and/or low visibility warnings, etc. The U.S. Coast Guard is highly optimistic that—in a not to distant future—AIS binary messaging will extend beyond CVTS Tampa Bay, to all other USCG VTS and ultimately to most waterways within our Nation-wide AIS (NAIS) network. For further information contact Irene Gonin, USCG R&D Center, 1082 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340 or Irene.M.Gonin@uscg.mil.

For general information on AIS including the U.S. Coast Guard's recent approval of Class B AIS devices click HERE