AIS Messages

AIS has the capability of sending short binary text messages and safety related text messages. Both messages can be either adressed to a special station (like a phone call) or broadcasted to all stations in an area.

Safety related text messages contain plain text about safety related issues, for example a buoy off station, an unlit light, a floating object etc....

All binary and safety related broadcast messages can be received and displayed by Yacht-AIS Professional and Pilot-AIS.

Binary text messages can also contain free text (like an SMS, for example for berthing arrangements) or predefined content.

The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) has developed seven messages for world-wide use. These messages include:

• Meteorological and Hydological Data
• Number of Persons on Board(*)
• Extended Ship Static and Voyage related Data (Air draught)
• Fairway Closed
• Tidal Window(*)
• Dangerous Cargo Indication(*)
• Pseudo AIS targets (re-broadcasting of VTS radar targets)

The ITU has definded two additional messages for world-wide use:

• Ships Route Plan (containing the next Waypoints of a ship)
• Recommended Ships Route (Recommendation of waypoints from a VTS for a vessel)

For the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, the relevant authorities have defined some additional special messages:

• Weather Station Message
• Wind Information Message
• Water Level Message
• Water Flow Message
• Lock Order Message
• Estimated Lock Times Message(*)
• Version Message

For use across the United States, the national authorities have developed some more messages:

• Vessel Processing Order
• Hydro / Current Message
• Hydro / Salinity Temp Message

If you know of any other locally used binary AIS text messages that are not listed above, please contact us. We will be happy to implement them into our software.

All messages marked with "(*)" are adressed binary messages (AIS message 6). Decoding and processing of adressed binary messages is only legal for competent authorities. Therefore Yacht-AIS Professional does not process theses messages. Upon request from competent authorities (like Port Control, Police, Coast Guard) we will provide a special Yacht-AIS "VTS" edition for decoding these adressed binary messages.