On October 22^nd, 2003 the Coast Guard published a Final Rule that amended a previously promulgated Interim Rule, that harmonized the AIS mandates of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, as amended by the 73rd (MSC 73) and 76th Session (MSC 76) , and, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) , which delineates U.S. AIS carriage requirements as follows:

Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations

§ 164.46 Automatic Identification System (AIS).

    (a)  The following vessels must have a properly installed, operational, type approved AIS as of the date specified:

     (1)  Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than passenger and fishing vessels, in commercial service and on an international voyage, not later than December 31, 2004.

     (2)  Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the following, self-propelled vessels, that are on an international voyage must also comply with SOLAS, as amended, Chapter V, regulation 19.2.1.6, 19.2.4, and 19.2.3.5 or 19.2.5.1 as appropriate (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03):

        (i)   Passenger vessels, of 150 gross tonnage or more, not later than July 1, 2003;
        (ii)  Tankers, regardless of tonnage, not later than the first safety survey for safety equipment on or after July 1, 2003;
        (iii)  Vessels, other than passenger vessels or tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage or more, not later than July 1, 2004; and
        (iv)  Vessels, other than passenger vessels or tankers, of 300 gross tonnage or more but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than the first safety survey for safety equipment on or after July 1, 2004, but no later than December 31, 2004.

     (3)  Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, the following vessels, when navigating an area denoted in table 161.12(c)  of § 161.12 of this chapter, not later than December 31, 2004.

        (i)  Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than fishing vessels and passenger vessels certificated to carry less than 151 passengers-for-hire, in commercial service;
        (ii)  Towing vessels of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower, in commercial service;
        (iii)  Passenger vessels certificated to carry more than 150 passengers-for-hire.

Note to § 164.46(a):  "Properly installed" refers to an installation using the guidelines set forth in IMO SN/Circ.227 (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03).  Not all AIS units are able to broadcast position, course, and speed without the input of an external positioning device (e.g. DGPS); the use of other external devices (e.g. transmitting heading device, gyro, rate of turn indicator) is highly recommended, however, not required except as stated in § 164.46(a)(2).  "Type approved" refers to an approval by an IMO recognized Administration as to comply with IMO Resolution MSC.74(69), ITU-R Recommendation M.1371-1, and IEC 61993-2 (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03).  "Length" refers to "registered length" as defined in 46 CFR, part 69.  "Gross tonnage" refers to "tonnage" as defined under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.

     (b) The requirements for Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge radiotelephones in §§ 26.04(a) and (c), 26.05, 26.06 and 26.07 this chapter, also apply to AIS. The term "effective operating condition" used in § 26.06 includes accurate input and upkeep of AIS data fields.

     (c) The use of a portable AIS is permissible, only to the extent that electromagnetic interference does not affect the proper function of existing navigation and communication equipment on board, and such that only one AIS unit may be in operation at any one time.

     (d) The AIS Pilot Plug, on each vessel over 1,600 gross tons, on international voyage, shall be available for pilot use, easily accessible from the primary conning position of the vessel, and near 120 volt, AC power, 3-prong receptacle.

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You may also view printable copies of our: Small Entity Compliance Guide to AIS, this rule with definitions to the various terms used therein, side-by-side with SOLAS and the MTSA provisions, as a color-coded consolidated regulatory text, the presentation used at our public meetings regarding expanding upon these requirements, and our current regulatory plan regarding future AIS carriage requirements.

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