ATON (Aids to Navigation) & AIS SART

This is nice…

AIS/IALA_1062_AIS_as_a_Aton.pdf

Good explanation

Symbols for AIS ATON

AIS ATONs

ATONs are often integrated with Automatic Identification System (AIS), e.g. a lighthouse can be equipped with an
AIS transmitter. Sometimes it is impractical to equip the ATON with an AIS transponder; in this case an AIS shore
station can be assigned to transmit AIS messages on behalf of the ATON. This is known as a synthetic ATON.

In other cases, such as marking a wreck until a physical buoy can be deployed, a so-called virtual ATON is
created: A shore-based AIS system is configured to transmit AIS messages indicating the existence of an ATON at
a specified location

TYPES OF AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS (PER ITU-R M.1371 AND IEC STANDARDS)

Class A (IEC 61993-2)

Shipborne mobile equipment intended to meet the performance standards and carriage
requirements adopted by IMO. Class A stations report their position (message 1/2/3) autonomously
every 2-10 seconds dependent on the vessel’s speed and/or course changes (every three minutes or
less when at anchor or moored); and, the vessel’s static and voyage related information (message 5)
every 6 minutes. Class A stations are also capable of text messaging safety related information
(message 6/8) and AIS Application Specific Messages (message 6,8,25,26), such as meteorological
and hydrological data, electronic Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and other marine safety information
(see IMO Safety of Navigation Circular 289, GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF AIS APPLICATION-SPECIFIC
MESSAGES (ASM) or the IALA Application Specific Message Collection).

Class B (IEC 62287-1 and 62287-2)

Shipborne mobile equipment which is interoperable with all other AIS stations, but, does not meet
all the performance standards adopted by IMO. Similar to Class A stations, they report every three
minutes when at anchor or moored, but, their position (message 18) is reported less often and at a
lower power.  Likewise, they report the vessel’s static data (message 18/24) every 6 minutes, but,
not any voyage related information. They can receive safety related text and application specific
messages, but, cannot transmit them. There are two types of Class B AIS, those using carrier sense
Time-Division Multiple Access (CS-TDMA) technology and those like the Class A using Self-Organizing
Time-Division Multiple Access Technology (SO-TDMA).  Class B/SO is generally more capable; Class
B/CS is generally less expensive. See this broader comparison of Class A and Class B AIS.

Search and Rescue Aircraft (IEC standards yet to be developed)

Aircraft mobile equipment, normally reporting every ten seconds.

AIS Aid to Navigation (IEC 62320-2)

Shore-based or mobile station providing location and status of an aid to navigation (ATON). Normally
reports (message 21) every three minutes. These stations may also broadcast Application Specific
Messages (message 12/14). Federal AIS ATON Stations and the messages they broadcast are listed in
the USCG Light List.

Note, current U.S. regulations (33 CFR §66.01-1) prohibit the authorization of electronic aids to
navigation (ATON) as private aids--other than racons or radars. The Coast Guard is in the process of
amending these regulations to permit the authorization and use of AIS ATON's as private aids to
navigation; until this accomplished the Coast Guard will not be accepting or approving any private
(non-Federal) USCG AIS Aton Applications. Further, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
will not grant licensing to an AIS ATON station without prior approval from the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Special Notice regarding their use of AIS ATONs.

AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (SART) (IEC 61097-14)

Mobile equipment to assist homing to itself (i.e. life boats, life raft). An AIS SART transmits a text
broadcast (message 14) of either 'SART TEST' or 'ACTIVE SART'. When active the unit also transmits a
position message (message 1 with a 'Navigation Status' = 14) in a burst of 8 messages once per
minute.

AIS SARTs are also used in maritime survivor locating devices (MSLD) or man overboard (MOB)
devices, as specified in RTCM 11901.1, Standard for Maritime Survivor Locating Devices as well as for
AIS locating beacons on 406 MHz EPIRBs.  Standard AIS SARTs can be identified by MMSI's beginning
with the numbers "970", AIS maritime survivor locating devices or MOBs with MMSIs beginning with
"972", and AIS EPIRB with MMSIs beginning with "974".  All categories of AIS SARTs will be displayed
on IMO-mandated shipboard navigation displays.

What are these messages?

See the link

AIS data_by_station.pdf