A new ship-borne integrated Automatic Identification System

Satellite navigation is very important for ship safety assurance. A system for ship safety is called AIS (Automatic Identification System). In the AIS system GPS is the main component. The AIS is the system which IMO (International Maritime Organization) forces some ships to install. These ships are called Convention Applied ships. So the safety of these ships can be ensured by AIS. But in China and in many countries the number of Non Convention Applied ships is larger. The number is about 80% of the total number of ships in China. How to ensure the safety of Non Convention ships becomes an important problem, because Non Convention ships may bring accident to Convention applied ships. In this paper two new AIS systems are put forward. One is AIS-II used for Non Convention Applied ships. Another is integrated AIS system or IAIS used for Convention applied and non Convention applied ships in the same water area. AIS is based on GPS and VHF communications, the AIS-II is based on GPS and mobile wireless communications, and IAIS is based on both of the two systems. First the system structure and function of AIS-II and IAIS are presented. Then the algorithm of ship identification in AIS-II and the key techniques of IAIS are discussed. The transmission and processing of ship identification in real-time are also researched. The systems are demonstrated in inland water ways and at sea. The results of system tests proved that IAIS is very useful for the safety assurance of all ships in one water area. So the system can meet the increasing demand of navigation and management in inland water ways and at sea.