AIS is intended to enhance, safety of life at sea; the safety and efficiency of navigation; and the protection of the marine environment.
As per SOLAS regulation V/19 requires that AIS exchange data ship-to-ship and with shore-based facilities. Therefore, the purpose of AIS is to help identify vessels; assist in target tracking; simplify information exchange (e.g. reduce verbal mandatory ship reporting); and provide additional information to assist situation awareness.
In general, data received via AIS will improve the quality of the information available to the OOW, whether at a shore surveillance station or on board a ship. AIS should become a useful source of supplementary information to that derived from navigational systems (including radar) and therefore an important ‘tool’ in enhancing situation awareness of traffic confronting users.