The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued Marine Safety Alert 04-20 to remind the maritime community that accurate AIS data entry and display is essential to safe navigation.
Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) Update: AIS Access and Reporting and Enforcement Data Working Group
In this post, the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards provides an overview of a recent conference call with 55 states and territories to establish a working group to address issues related to the 2018 Vessel Incidental Discharge Act.
Updates to ship radio inspection checklists
Checklists now include items to test for LED lighting interference with VHF radios and AIS.
Federal Communications Commission issues enforcement advisory on non-compliant AIS devices
Automatic Identification Systems that are non-compliant with adopted international standards can confuse, degrade or even disrupt other users’ systems. The FCC has issued an enforcement advisory stating the use of non-compliant AIS devices is illegal.
8/16/2018: Marine Safety Alert – Potential interference of VHF-FM radio and AIS reception
The Office of Investigation and Analysis released Marine Safety Alert 13-18 to alert mariners about reports regarding poor reception on VHF frequencies used for radiotelephone, digital selective calling (DSC) and automatic identification systems (AIS) when in the vicinity of light emitting diode (LED) on-board ships (e.g., navigation lights, searchlights and floodlights, interior and exterior lights, adornment). Radio frequency interference caused by these LED lamps was found to create potential safety hazards.