Revoked by MSC.347(91)

Resolution MSC.140(76)

RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE AIS VHF DATA LINK

(adopted on 6 December 2002)

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly resolved that the functions of adopting performance standards and technical specifications for radio and navigational equipment, as well as amendments thereto, shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee on behalf of the Organization,

RECALLING FURTHER resolution MSC.74(69), Recommendation on Performance Standards for an Universal Shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS),

REALIZING the application of AIS devices to safety of navigation as well as security,

NOTING that the International Telecommunications Union Sector for Radiocommunications (ITU-R) recognizes a Class A category of AIS meeting the requirements of resolution MSC.74(69), as well as Class B and other categories of AIS not meeting the requirements of resolution MSC.74(69),

NOTING ALSO that Class A devices are intended to meet compulsory AIS fitting requirements of the SOLAS Convention and Class B devices are intended to meet the needs of vessels, which fit AIS on a voluntary basis,

NOTING FURTHER the benefit of Class B devices,

RECOGNIZING that the radio channels used by AIS, particularly AIS 1 (161.975 MHz) and AIS 2 (162.025 MHz), are regarded as an AIS network, and any disruption to those channels by any one AIS device could affect the operation of all AIS devices on that network,

RECOGNIZING FURTHER the compelling need to ensure the integrity of the AIS VHP data link,