With the implementation of AIS a substantial enhancement of maritime safety will be accomplished. Even if concerns have been raised regarding the presentation of AIS data the advantage of AIS as a complement to the radar in most situations are without doubt. The AIS System should be considered as relatively easy to install onboard a ship. No Dry docking orhot works are required. The worldwide installation capacity may however become a problem if the USrequest for a worldwide carriage requirement from 1st July 2004 will be implemented. The availability of Transponders will cause no problem according to manufacturers. One challenge for AIS is not the installation onboard itself but the interoperability between transponders from different suppliers according to the standards developed for AIS since it is a new advanced technology never before implemented by IMO as a mandatory requirement.