A new transponder generation (¹) AIS Class B + claims to make them more visible pleasure boats. here's how…
The automatic identification systems (AIS) may have been originally designed as an anti-collision system for commercial navigation, but in recent years, they have also become a popular security assistance for pleasure boats.
AIS allows not only to see and be seen, even hidden by the darkness, fog, earth or distance, but it also becomes a useful navigation tool now that the transmitters are installed on tags, buoys and other navigational aids.
The AIS-SART (Search And Rescue Transponders) were also approved for use as a man overboard devices, which can be captured by SAR helicopters and by surface vessels equipped with an AIS system.
Until recently, however, AIS was using a system at two distinct levels :
- Issuers Class A, mandatory on all vessels over 300 Tx or more 12 passengers, fishing boats > 15meters.
- Issuers Class B that allow smaller fishing and recreational vessels to adopt a low-power transponder and cost.
The problem is that recreational boats equipped with AIS transponders Class B may not be visible as one might think, especially in high traffic areas with many AIS targets. From now on, altering the rules and a new generation of AIS transponders Class B + help standardize gives. So what are the changes and their impact on potential buyers ?
How AIS
To explain the changes, one must first understand how the AIS. An AIS transponder includes a GPS receiver and a VHF data transmitter. The transponder transmits this GPS position in digital form on two VHF channels dedicated to the AIS (161,975 MHz 162,025 MHz). To avoid the simultaneous transmission of multiple devices, AIS transponder using a system called TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), meaning : multiple access time division.
Each transponder communicates with other users of the area to avoid conflict and claim his own short time interval 26,6 milliseconds. The system allows up 4500 ships to sail in the same neighborhood, automatically giving priority to those who are closest and therefore more likely to be a collision.
However, how different transponder classes get their slot varies. Class A transponders use a system called SOTDMA (Self Organised Time Division Multiple Access) meaning : Multiple Access self-organized time division, allowing them to negotiate with other Class A transponders to book a time slot and book future.
Class B transponders use different technology called CSTDMA (Carrier Sense Time Division Multiple Access). This allows Class B transponders listen to Class A transponders and grab an empty time slot to perform their transmission. The system is designed so that the Class A transponders always have priority over the Class B transponders, which means that a class A transponder fly occasionally a slot in a class B slot and force to retard its transmission until another empty slot appears.
The number of transmissions by a transponder will vary depending on several parameters, including class (A or B), vessel speed, the state of the navigation, and the fact that it is trying to maneuver or not. The class A transponder of a fast ferry may show its location every two seconds, while a pleasure boat equipped with class B only transmits all 30 seconds.
A Class A transponder also transmits with a power 12,5 Watts while a Class B transponder emits only 2 Watts – or just over a third of the power of a portable VHF 5 Watts. This limits the transmission class B at a maximum range of 8 at 10 nautical miles means that traditional Class B transmissions are often not received by AIS satellites that provide global tracking of ships.
AIS Class B + explained
The new Class B +, also known as Class B SOTDMA, or Class B 5 Watts, bridges the gap between the Class A transponders and Class B, offering clear advantages for certain types of vessels and applications. Class B + uses the same SOTDMA technology as class A and therefore has the same priority when it comes to reserving a time slot, ensuring that it will always be able to pass, even in congested waters overloaded with AIS. It also increases the transmission rate depending on the speed (but is not affected by other maneuvers), giving other ships a clearer view and present the position.
For motor boats to travel, as for yachts, more frequent updates of the position does not make a big difference, but a star hovering 25 nodes advance of nearly 400 meters in 30 seconds it takes for a Class B transponder to transmit its next signal. On a boat equipped with a transponder class B + navigating to 25 knots or more, the update rate is 5 seconds, so that he will travel 65 meters between two updates.
Finally, class of transponders B + have a higher power transmission 5 Watts instead of 2 Watts, This not only increases the other boats reception range (assuming that the height and the antenna performance is good), but also significantly improves the ability of satellite AIS receivers to track your location.
What transponder adopt ?
The answer depends on the type of boat you, the type of cruise you do and the budget you are willing to spend. The cheapest solution is to use a simple AIS receiver. This is enough to display the AIS traffic in your neighborhood and allows you to communicate with ships using their MMSI number, but that does not make your boat visible to other AIS users.
Class A transponders are located at the opposite end of the scale, are expensive, energy intensive, and are therefore reserved for large yachts and sailing vessels. For smaller boats, a Class B transponder type "black box" costs less than 1000 euros and can be associated with a multifunction display or tablet app.
However, the scope and limited frequency transmissions could be a disadvantage, especially for the fastest boats, or more distant cruises where the highest transmit power will significantly improve the capacity of satellite AIS to track your location when out of range of surface VHF. In these circumstances, spend 200 at 300 Additional euros for a Class B transponder + may seem wise. But attention to the fact that the power of 5 Watts requires more energy resources.
What limit AIS ?
There is a myth of believing that big ships have the ability to "turn off" Class B transmissions in crowded areas. There is no filter option on business or leisure AIS receivers. Thus, if a merchant ship captures a Class B transmission, it will trigger the collision risk alarm as for a class A transmission. One can only filter on a large ship ECDIS screen to reduce visual clutter by removing Class B targets, but absolutely not their transmission itself.
On the other hand, it is recommended to small vessels intersecting a high traffic commercial area to their class transponder B mode "silence" in order not to unnecessarily burden the ship displays very little maneuvering tonnage must be able to focus on the class of target A.
No transponder should be considered as a replacement or alternative to radar because this instrument does not view the land, the grains, nor other obstacles without boats and AIS transmitter.
Source : Freely translated and adapted from Blog Geogarage.
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(¹) transponder AIS : for "AIS transceiver". Notice to purists of the French language : the English term "transponder" has been commonly Frenchized by the profession (manufacturers and retailers of boating) but has not been adopted to date by lexicographers.
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Related Articles :
– AIS for Dummies
– AIS, the second maritime revolution after the GPS
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Excellent article, Francis goods
a collision course ,alteration of course to avoidance will be more effective if carried out by the fastest.
Yes. I think I wrote in the article clearly. But a replacement can be justified if you have a boat moving at regular speeds above 15 knots. In terms of safety is small slow ships that should ensure the swinging of large vessels in high traffic area.
Concerning satellite tracking, this is still a very expensive service reserved to the monitoring of merchant fleets for safety and marine police.
Of course if ! Marine Traffic, Vessel Finder, and other display all targets. Only satellites that do not see, or poorly, less powerful Class B transmitters above ground receivers to reach.
This seems to mean that it is the extra power of the B + B compared to that will allow satellites to receive the signal and thus make it visible on Marine Traffic and other vessels position ?
I prefer to be safe before changing transponder…
Thank you,
Didier
Bjr Francis,
Why "obviously" since classes B do not allow it ?
Didier
Actually, nothing prohibits. But it is entirely inappropriate for pleasure craft not exceeding 10 at 15 knots. That's the whole point of a class B + beyond those speeds.
The issue is different for multihulls especially > 24 meters that must meet special regulations.
The price of 1,300 € for a class A surprise me. Furuno Raymarine, through Transas, the range is rather between 2000 and € 3,000 excluding compliant antenna.
Hello
Nothing prevents a ship not subject to SOLAS â install a Class A
I official docs at home I can get a copy by Monday 22 April
Example trimarans Sodebo are in class A
A class Equipment begins around 1300 euros with screen displaying maps and targets
A good class B + is 1260 € as AIT5000
Do not forget to have an antenna cable without loss, good antenna connectors and superb
Francis thank you for this informative article.
Off chance, and to get an idea of comparison, At a first prize AIS Class costs about how much ? (and weighs how much and how consumes?)
And is it legal for a sailing boat (say less than 40 feet) is a Class A AIS ?
Finally, assume that it would be legal and cheap and consumes little, is that it could be a security problem (in a high density area) a small sailing boat is a Class A AIS (and therefore it has the same transmission priority that larger ships) ?
Issuers class A are reserved for vessels subject to SOLAS. So inaccessible to pleasure.
Thank you to Francis, for those spontaneous clarification that update our knowledge enable us to ameliirer Security.
Hello,
Thank you for this article.
The B + does allow i to be recognized by the maritime traffic sites ?
Thank you,
Didier
Obviously !