Division 5.1 Introduction

A navigational aid (also known as Aids to Navigation, or AtoN) is a marker which provides support during navigation. Such aids include markings for lighthouses, buoys, fog signals, and day beacons. A list of types of AtoNs is included in Table 5.2.

The AIS technology provides the possibility to dynamically transfer information about AtoNs.

For the use in inland navigation the maritime AIS AtoN report (Message 21) needs to be extended to reflect the specifics of the inland buoyage system.

The maritime AIS AtoN report is based on the IALA buoyage system. For inland navigation the AIS AtoN report needs to reflect the European Inland AtoN system described in Section 5.

The AIS AtoN report transfers the position and the meaning of the AtoN as well as information if a buoy is on the required position (on position) or not (off position).