INTERIM IALA GUIDELINES ON UNIVERSAL SHIPBORNE AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AIS)

In October 1997, at the request of several emerging AIS equipment manufacturers, IALA hosted a working group of manufacturers and maritime administrations to agree on a standard technology for AIS stations. The group, which was formally designated the IALA AIS Working Group, completed a draft recommendation, which was submitted by Sweden, on behalf of Finland, Germany, Canada, South Africa, and the United States to the International Telecommunications Union – Sector for Radiocommunications (ITU-R). Renamed the IALA AIS Steering Group, this body met twice yearly under the IALA umbrella to continue the development of system standards and applications as well as the development of these “IALA Guidelines on Universal Shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS)”, a significant project in itself. In December 1999 the IALA Council agreed that, in view of the international significance of the implementation of AIS, the Steering Group should become the AIS Committee of IALA.