Open Sharing of Automatic Identification System (AIS) Information

The transmission of Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel information was mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for all vessels of 300 gross tons and upwards engaged in international voyages, for all cargo ships of 500 gross tons and upwards not engaged in international voyages and for all passenger ships regardless of size. The requirement went into effect December 31, 2004. Beyond this IMO mandate, it remains up to individual countries that receive AIS information as to how they will gather, view and share this data.

Through several local and regional maritime data sharing initiatives, a number of countries have taken the next step and begun to share AIS information across regions and continents and are benefiting from a broader AIS picture. The global sharing of AIS data among governments through an open, internet-based data exchange is rapidly becoming a popular tool to enhance security as well as commercial and environmental safety. It is also a path toward greater inter- and intra-regional trust, cooperation and overall maritime awareness. Some specific benefits of global AIS data sharing to date include:

• Serving as a data feed to existing in-country maritime awareness systems and initiatives
• Allowing the development of vessel safety statistics and analysis of vessel transits
• Complementing other data such as that produced by radar outputs, monitoring of oil spills, port operations, etc
• Applicability to varied and diverse maritime issues including piracy, theft, illegal fishing, territorial rights, trafficking in narcotics and people
• Increasing the efficiency of maritime traffic to/from a country, port, terminal or canal

To date, the establishment of an open AIS data exchange has been based in several core principals that were created to ensure maximum benefit to all participating countries.

• Open to any government willing to exchange AIS data
• Share AIS information and in return receive access to the global AIS picture
• Information shared is non-classified only
• Data is not owned by any one participant or centralized, only exchanged
• Maintain a simple, easy-to-use system employing international data standards

For additional information please contact:

CDR Fran Cloe

Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness (OGMSA)

Tel: 1-202-372-2056

Email: maryfrances.cloe@uscg.mil