AIS on board of Passaat and Poseidon

Where are the ships sailing today.

AIS
Poseidon has been fitted with a AIS transponder in order to increase safety and reduce the risk of collisions. Also, as the ship's data is known, emergency services can respond more quickly in case of a calamity.

What is AIS?  
Although the underlying technologies have been in use for many years, the combination is relatively new. The GPS receiver uses satellite signals to calculate the exact location of the ship, including speed and course. This has long been a fixed feature on board.
Another standard item is the maritime telephone, with which we communicate with other ships as well as the coastguard stations of course.
AIS is a clever device that combined the functions of these 2 systems. First of all, the GPS determines the position of the ship, which is transmitted via the VHF antenna so that it can be received by other AIS receivers/transponders. As a result, any AIS station knows where the other AIS stations are, and vice versa of course. An electronic map shows you exactly where all the ships are located.

The benefits:
AIS can calculate (on condition that you are sailing, of course) whether you are approaching another ship, and will sound an alarm if the distance is dangerously close. The same system has been used in the aviation industry for many years now. Another useful feature is that you can see the name of the approaching vessel directly on-screen, even when these ships are too far for visual identification. Obviously, the coastguard knows exactly where to find us in case of a disaster, such as an onboard fire or collision. For them, we are a dot on the screen with accompanying name!

AIS is not yet compulsory but will soon become so for all inland shipping vessels. The Poseidon and Passaat are already well prepared for the new maritime future.

Present position Poseidon, hier.

Present position Passaat, hier.