Saab TransponderTech Gets First AIS Type Approval

World’s first Automatic Identification System (AIS) type approval is given to Saab TransponderTech AB by German test house “Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie” (BSH). AIS, the system made mandatory by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in SOLAS chapter V, regulation 19, has been given its first type approval. AIS is the new system that many see as the most important revolution in maritime safety and security since Radar and GPS were introduced. Saab TransponderTech was given the first type approval by BSH in Germany, on AIS according to the international standards and requirements. BSH is today considered to be the only test house with capacity and competence to test AIS. Both competent authorities and serious manufacturers agree that it is extremely important that AIS is tested on the same requirements and principals according to the international standards. Not doing this would lead to an implementation failure since ships meeting each other would not be able to communicate in the correct way. This will cause danger instead of safety as intended. It could easily be compared with GMDSS where equipment tested in different ways from the beginning caused problems to the system and thereby bad reputation.