| TO: | Captain, SEA PRINCESS |
| FROM: | Grahame Burton |
| SUBJECT: | Test of AIS Transponders in British Columbia/Alaska Summer 2000 |
| DATE: | July 20, 2000 |
I should like to request your assistance in this evaluation of AIS as an aid to safe navigation and collision avoidance. The reason for asking you to do so, is that international standards for integration of AIS in bridge displays are currently being developed by IMO. Holland America Line and Princess Cruises intend to participate in this standard setting process.
Test Objectives
The main objective of the test is
to verify that AIS allows a ship's bridge team to become aware of nearby
vessel traffic which cannot either be seen visually, or acquired by ARPA
due to topographical features. The second objective is to determine to
best way to integrate AIS into the electronic chart or radar display.
Caution
The AIS transponders have not yet
received type approval for connection to the ships principle ARPA or ECDIS,
which are required to be carried by SOLAS. You should therefore ensure
that the display of AIS information does not interfere with the normal
operation of the principle ARPA or ECDIS display of your integrated bridge
Sponsors
This test is an initiative of the
Pacific Marine Review Panel (PACMAR). The test is sponsored by Transport
Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Holland America-Line Westours, Inc.,
Princess Cruises, NWCA and Tideland Signal Corporation.
Briefing
Briefings for the test will be held
on SEA PRINCESS on Saturday August 12, on REGAL PRINCESS on Sunday August
13 and on VOLENDAM on Monday August 14.
Test Period
The main test will start after the
briefing and end upon de-briefing (see below). Until mid-day on Saturday
August 26 the base station on Discovery Mountain (opposite Chatham Point)
will be passive. After that it will re-broadcast the AIS transmissions
it receives. This should significantly extend the range of AIS in the Seymour
Narrows area.
Log Files
To allow a Cadet of the Maritime College
in Vancouver (BCIT) to analyse AIS and ARPA observations, starting August
1, please periodically save the ChartPilot log file and NaviSailor Track
Files on diskettes and send them to PACMAR, c/o Rose Bray, Chamber of Shipping
of British Columbia, 100-1111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E
2J3, Canada. Detailed instructions on how to save log
and track files are attached.
Debriefing
A delegation representing the test
sponsors will visit your vessels towards the end of the season to gain
direct user feedback by discussing AIS with you and your officers. These
meetings are scheduled for Saturday September 9 on SEA PRINCESS, Sunday
September 10 on REGAL PRINCESS and Monday September 11 on VOLENDAM.
To prepare for the debriefing, I should
be grateful if your Bridge Team could begin to develop an evaluation of
AIS, including but not limited to: