USCG AIS requirements
Summary of AIS requirements.
Effective March 2nd, 2015, certain commercially self-propelled vessels must have a properly installed, operational Automatic Identification System (AIS) no later than March 1st, 2016. The following vessels are required to install and use a
Class A AIS transponder:
- All commercial vessels of 65 feet or more in length (except as defined below)
- Towing vessels of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower
- Vessels certificated to carry more than 150 passengers
- Passenger vessels that are 65 feet or more and certificated to carry less than 150 passengers but operate in a Vessel Traffic Service area or at speeds in excess of 14 knots
- Dredges that operate near a commercial channel
- Vessels engaged in the movement of certain dangerous cargo, or flammable or combustible liquid cargo in bulk
In addition, the following vessels will be required to install and use at least a
Class B AIS transponder:
- Commercial fishing vessels that are 65 feet or more in length
- Commercial passenger vessels that are 65 feet or more and are certificated to carry less than 150 passengers but do not operate in a Vessel Traffic Service area or at speeds in excess of 14 knots
- Dredges operating outside shipping fairways
Vessels that operate solely within a very confined area, or on only short scheduled voyages; or that are not likely to encounter other AIS-equipped vessels; or whose design or construction makes it impracticable to operate an AIS device may seek up to a 5-year deviation from this requirement.
Copied below from the Federal Register.
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(1)
AIS Class A device. The following vessels must have on board a properly installed, operational
USCG Type-approved* AIS Class A device: (i) A self-propelled vessel of 65 feet or more in length, engaged in
commercial service.
(ii) A
towing vessel of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower, engaged in
commercial service.
(iii) A self-propelled vessel that is
certificated to carry more than 150
passengers.
(iv) A self-propelled vessel engaged in dredging operations in or near a commercial channel or shipping fairway in a manner likely to restrict or affect navigation of other vessels.
(v) A self-propelled vessel engaged in the movement of –
(A)
Certain dangerous cargo as defined in subpart C of part 160 of this chapter, or
(B)
Flammable or combustible liquid cargo in bulk that is listed in 46 CFR 30.25–1, Table 30.25–1.
(2) AIS Class B device.
AIS Class B device in lieu of an
AIS Class A device is permissible on the following vessels if they are not subject to pilotage by other than the vessel Master or crew:
(i)
fishing industry vessels;
(ii) Vessels identified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section that are certificated to carry less than 150 passengers and that–
(A) Do not operate in a
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) or Vessel Movement Reporting System (VMRS) area defined in
Table 161.12(c) of § 161.12 of this chapter, and
(B) Do not operate at speeds in excess of 14 knots; and
(iii) Vessels identified in paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section engaged in dredging operations.
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