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 This month, AWT is releasing a new product, the AWT Global AIS service. We are the first in the industry to provide this type of vessel tracking on a global scale. With this service, accurate vessel tracking is easier and more cost-effective than ever before.
In the article below, Rich Brown, AWT’s VP of Product Management, explains more about what AIS is and how it can be used in ship routing and monitoring.
Enjoy your reading. We welcome your feedback. |
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Skip Vaccarello |
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 New AWT Global AIS Service Uses Satellite Data for Ship Monitoring & Routing
Rich Brown, Vice President of Product Management
Here at AWT, we’re driven to provide our clients with the latest technology innovations in the industry. That said, we are excited about our new product, the AWT Global Automated Identification System (AIS) service. This is the first time that AIS satellite data is being used in ship-routing, enabling tracking to be done on a global scale. With the use of this data, we can now make accurate ship-tracking faster, easier and more cost-effective.
What is AIS?
 AIS is an automated tracking system that is used for identifying and locating vessels. AIS transponders automatically broadcast information such as their position, speed and heading at regular intervals via a VHF transmitter built into the transponder. These transponders are required aboard international voyaging ships with gross tonnage (GT) of 300 or more.
Historically, this information has been primarily used by other ships for collision avoidance since the transponders have a horizontal range of only about 35 nautical miles (NM). However, these transponders have a much longer vertical range, which means that this information can also be picked up by satellite. Now, with access to this satellite information, AIS tracking can be done on a global scale.
Why use AIS in ship routing?
In the past, ship monitoring has been limited because only terrestrial AIS data was available. AWT is now combining terrestrial data with satellite data to provide more comprehensive global coverage. This means that accurate monitoring is possible even when ships are in blue ocean.
Customers can track their ships through AWT’s fleet management system, GlobalView™, in an easy-to-read, visual format. Through GlobalView, customers can see the ship’s latest position and also the historical positions, making it easy to see where the ship’s been and where it’s headed. This means that customers will know right away if ships are being held up by bad weather or having to take an alternate route.
 For example, during a voyage, vessels often need to stop for repairs or refueling. With the use of AWT Global AIS, clients will often be able to detect these stoppages, even before the Captain has had a chance to report it. Fleet managers can also see when vessels are approaching high-risk areas, such as the pirate area in the Indian Ocean, and make sure that their insurance is up to date and the Captain has taken the appropriate security precautions.
Combining AIS with AWT Services
Sometimes just monitoring a ship’s position isn’t enough. For example, since break bulk vessels need extensive shore-side resources for unloading, an accurate ETA is very important.
In instances like these, AWT Global AIS can be combined with tracking and routing services to provide customers with an accurate ETA. This ETA is continuously updated as new data is received, ensuring that customers always have the most up-to-date information in GlobalView. This information is also sent out daily by email with AWT’s Fleet Status Report.
According to Anthony Birch, Marine Assistant, Operations, Africa Express Lines, "AWT’s Global AIS service greatly benefits us. When combined with GlobalView, not only does it give us positioning of the entire fleet on-screen, but you get the added bonus of overlaying the weather, clouds, visibility, waves, current speeds, etc., and this list goes on. It is an invaluable source of information and in a neat little package."
To learn more about AWT Global AIS, contact us.
Download the AWT Global AIS Service brochure. |
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| AWT is the leading provider of fleet optimization services, ship routing services and BVS onboard voyage management software to ship owners, operators and charterers seeking the safest and most efficient routes for their fleets. AWT is staffed by world-renown experts in ship routing, meteorology, IT, maritime science and former mariners who are focused solely on the maritime industry. Using the most sophisticated technology, AWT routes more ships per month than any other company. Its superior customer service and integrity have made AWT the most trusted fleet optimization provider in the maritime industry. Founded in 1996, AWT is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with worldwide offices located in the UK, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Germany, New York, and New Jersey. More information is available at www.awtworldwide.com or by calling +1.408.731.8600. |
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