Annex – Information on the Display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard and EPIRB-AIS Devices
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Safety of Navigation - Circular SN.1/Circ.322 – Information on the Display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard and EPIRB-AIS Devices – (24 June 2013) - Annex – Information on the Display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard and EPIRB-AIS Devices

Annex – Information on the Display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard and EPIRB-AIS Devices

  1 This circular provides information on the display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard (MOB) and EPIRB-AIS devices today. AIS-SARTs (AIS-search and rescue transmitters) are part of the GMDSS and have been able to be used as an alternative to radar (X-band) search and rescue radar transponders (SARTs) on SOLAS ships since 1 January 2010.

  2 EPIRB-AIS devices will be 406 MHz distress alerting devices that contain an additional AIS transmitter developed using the same AIS-SART technology, where the AIS component is used as an aid in locating that EPIRB-AIS.

  3 AIS Man Overboard (MOB) devices are now available as locating aids for persons at risk in the water. Once such a situation has been determined as being an emergency, AIS Man Overboard (MOB) devices may be used as an aid in locating that person.

  4 In order to protect the integrity of the VHF data link used by AIS, AIS devices, including AIS-MOB devices, are not intended to be used to routinely locate or track people not being in an emergency situation.

  AIS-SART

  5 AIS-SARTs may be indicated on a newer graphical display of AIS by a circle with an "X" inside it, as shown (extract from SN.1/Circ.243/Add.1):

  • Topic Symbol
    AIS search and rescue transmitter (AIS-SART)

  6 Alternatively, the AIS-SART may be indicated on an older graphical display of AIS as a normal (sleeping) AIS target (isosceles triangle), as shown (extract from SN.1/Circ.243), taking into account that the triangle may be oriented by Course over Ground (COG):

  • Topic Symbol
    AIS Target

  7 The symbol remains the same, whether the AIS-SART is in Active or Test Mode; however, there is associated message text displayed, when an AIS-SART target is selected.

  8 An AIS-SART uses the following associated message text:

  • SART ACTIVE means an AIS-SART in Active Mode.
    SART TEST means an AIS-SART in Test Mode.
    The maritime identity format used is: 970xxyyyy (where "xxyyyy" are numerals from 0 to 9)

  AIS Man Overboard (MOB)

  9 A Man Overboard (MOB) device using AIS will be displayed in the same way as an AIS-SART (see paragraphs 5 to 7 above).

  10 A Man Overboard (MOB) device using AIS may use the same associated message text as in paragraph 8 above, but newer devices might have associated message text displayed as follows:

  • MOB ACTIVE indicates an AIS-based MOB device in Active Mode.
    MOB TEST indicates an AIS-based MOB device in Test Mode.
    The maritime identity format used is: 972xxyyyy (where "xxyyyy" are numerals from 0 to 9).

  EPIRB-AIS

  11 EPIRB-AIS devices will be displayed in the same way as an AIS-SART (see paragraphs 5 to 7 above).

  12 EPIRB-AIS devices may use the same associated message text as in paragraph 8 above, but newer devices might have associated message text displayed as follows:

  • EPIRB ACTIVE indicates a 406 MHz EPIRB that contains an additional AIS transmitter indicating that the EPIRB is in Active Mode.
    EPIRB TEST indicates a 406 MHz EPIRB that contains an additional AIS transmitter indicating that the EPIRB is in Test Mode.
    The maritime identity used is: 974xxyyyy (where "xxyyyy" are numerals from 0 to 9).

  13 The user identity of the EPIRB-AIS indicates the identity of the AIS transmitter of the EPIRB-AIS and not the MMSI of the ship.

Parent topic: Circular SN.1/Circ.322 – Information on the Display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard and EPIRB-AIS Devices – (24 June 2013)
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