To increase public safety, the FCC should move quickly to grant w...
To increase public safety, the FCC should move quickly to grant waivers of Part 80 of its rules allowing operation of Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices, since no one opposes them, the U.S. Coast Guard said. If…
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the FCC agrees, it will extend AIS to many more ships than now use the system. Large vessels and those sailing in international waters, such as cruise ships or freighters carrying cargo exceeding 500 tons, must carry Class A AIS devices that send vessel identification, location, speed and other data. Class B devices will be used in commercial fishing and recreational boats and other smaller vessels, it said. Among other comments in the proceeding, SevenStar Electronics called the devices are important to public safety. “Lives are being lost every day through simple collisions and navigational errors, and the more widespread, controlled use of AIS technology will help to reduce these tragedies,” the company said. The U. S. Marine Safety Association said: “It is important that approved Class B AIS equipment becomes available to the maritime community as quickly as possible. These systems offer significant advances in the safety and security of mariners, vessels, cargo, public and ports and therefore should not be delayed any further.”