Cheap AIS

[camaraderie]

Here's the regs on who MUST carry an AIS transponder. Others will carry one for the benefits it offers ..but one should not assume every commercial vessel will have one in the near future.

MO Carriage Requirement

The 73rd Session of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee decided the following ships will be required to carry AIS equipment:
All ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages and cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships irrespective of size shall be fitted with AIS, as follows:

• ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;
• ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002;
• in the case of passenger ships, not later than 1 July 2003;
• in the case of tankers, not later than the first "safety equipment survey" after 1 July 2003;
• in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards, not later than 1 July 2004;
• in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2005;
• in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 10,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2006;
• in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 3,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2007; and
• in the case of ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before July 2002.

The United States Coast Guard will also require AIS on certain vessels not subject to SOLAS under a forthcoming rulemaking.