The AIS, Automatic Identification System, allows vessels to exchange pertinent data such as name, course, speed and current navigation status over VHF maritime bands. Once you transmit, other vessels or shore-based traffic-monitoring stations share that information, allowing them to make appropriate course changes. Using digital radio signals, a vessel with an AIS system broadcasts real-time information that's also displayed on your chart plotter or radar.

Raymarine introduced its new AIS250 Receiver Module to increase an operator's ability to avoid collision by enhancing his or her "situational awareness" in darkness, fog or other tricky navigational dilemmas. The new AIS250 Receiver Module is a "listen only" receiver that easily integrates with an existing VHF antenna using a VHF splitter. Interfacing the AIS250 to any Raymarine multifunction display allows targets to be graphically overlaid in both chart-plotter and radar modes, enabling vessels to identify and track other vessels within VHF antenna range. Raymarine's AIS250 receives broadcasts including AIS alarm and safety-related messages from the U.S. Coast Guard and features the ability to monitor both class A and B AIS broadcasts.

For more information, contactRaymarine at www.raymarine.com.