| Automatic Identification Systems are in use around | | | | investigation. |
| the world, though unless you're a sailor you'll probably | | | | Basically, AIS is a short range system where vessels |
| never have heard of them. | | | | and coastal tracking services can identify and locate |
| Even so, tracking ship movements with AIS has | | | | nearby ships using data transmitted by a VHF |
| made the seas and oceans a safer place for | | | | transceiver. Navigational data from GPS systems, |
| everyone. The technology has made it possible to | | | | gyro-compasses or other such tools is integrated |
| save hundreds of lives in maritime disasters, helped | | | | with a unique ship ID, making it possible for ships to |
| to keep busy ship lanes accident free and | | | | see who else is in their vicinity and what direction |
| revolutionised maritime insurance and accident | | | | they're going. |