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Division 5.2 Use of Message 21: Aids to Navigation report

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

For the use on inland waterways the AIS AtoN report (Message 21) as defined in Recommendation ITU-R M.1371 is being used. The additional European Inland types of AtoN are coded using the ‘AtoN status’ bits.

Table 5.1

AIS AtoN Report

In case an inland AtoN type code is being transmitted, this field (type of AtoN) shall be set to 0 = undefined

When using Figure 5-1 for AtoN the following shall be observed:

  • For fixed AtoN, virtual AtoN, and for offshore structures, the orientation established by the dimension A shall point to true north.

  • For floating aids larger than 2 m * 2 m the dimensions of the AtoN shall always be given approximated to a circle, i.e. the dimensions shall always be as follows A = B = C = D ≠ 0. (This is due to the fact that the orientation of the floating AtoN is not transmitted. The reference point for reported position is in the centre of the circle.)

  • A = B = C = D = 1 shall indicate objects (fixed or floating) smaller than or equal to 2 m * 2 m. (The reference point for reported position is in the centre of the circle.)

  • Floating offshore structures that are not fixed, such as rigs, shall be considered as Code 31 type from Table 5.2. These structures shall have their ‘Dimension/reference for position’ parameter as determined above in Note (1).

    For fixed offshore structures, Code 3 type from Table 5.2, shall have their ‘Dimension/reference for position’ parameter as determined above in Note (1). Hence, all offshore AtoN and structures have the dimension determined in the same manner and the actual dimensions are contained in Message 21.

For Inland AIS AtoN report this field shall be used to indicate the Inland AtoN type using page 001

When transmitting virtual AtoN information, i.e. the virtual/pseudo AtoN Target Flag is set to one (1), the dimensions shall be set to A = B=C = D = 0 (default). This shall also be the case, when transmitting ‘reference point’ information

ParameterNumber of bitsDescription
Message ID6Identifier for this message 21
Repeat indicator2

Used by the repeater to indicate how many times a message has been repeated

0-3; Default = 0; 3 = do not repeat any more

ID30MMSI number, (see Article 19 of the RR and Recommendation ITU-R M.585)
Type of Aids-to-Navigation50 = not available = default; refer to appropriate definition set up by IALA; see Figure 5-1f1
Name of Aids-to-Navigation120

Maximum 20 characters 6-bit ASCII, as defined in Table 47 ‘@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@’ = not available = default.

The name of the AtoN may be extended by the parameter ‘Name of Aids-to-Navigation Extension’ below

Position accuracy (PA)11 = high (≤ 10 m) 0 = low (> 10 m) 0 = default The PA flag should be determined in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.1371 table ‘Determination of position accuracy information’
Longitude28Longitude in 1/10 000 min of position of an AtoN (± 180°, East = positive, West = negative 181 = (6791AC0h) = not available = default)
Latitude27Latitude in 1/10 000 min of an AtoN (± 90°, North = positive, South = negative 91 = (3412140h) = not available = default)
Dimension/reference for position30Reference point for reported position; also indicates the dimension of an AtoN (m) (see Figure 5-1), if relevantf2
Type of electronic position fixing device4

0 = Undefined (default)

1 = GPS

2 = GLONASS

3 = Combined GPS/GLONASS

4 = Loran-C

5 = Chayka

6 = Integrated Navigation System

7 = surveyed. For fixed AtoN and virtual AtoN, the charted position should be used. The accurate position enhances its function as a radar reference target

8 = Galileo

9-14 = not used

15 = internal GNSS

Time stamp6UTC second when the report was generated by the EPFS (0-59 or 60) if time stamp is not available, which should also be the default value or 61 if positioning system is in manual input mode or 62 if electronic position fixing system operates in estimated (dead reckoning) mode or 63 if the positioning system is inoperative)
Off-position indicator1

For floating AtoN, only: 0 = on position; 1 = off position.

NOTE 1 — This flag should only be considered valid by receiving station, if the AtoN is a floating aid, and if time stamp is equal to or below 59. For floating AtoN the guard zone parameters should be set on installation

AtoN status8

Reserved for the indication of the AtoN status

00000000 = defaultf3

RAIM-flag1RAIM (Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring) flag of electronic position fixing device; 0 = RAIM not in use = default; 1 = RAIM in use; see Recommendation ITU-R M.1371 table ‘Determination of position accuracy information’
Virtual AtoN flag10 = default = real AtoN at indicated position; 1 = virtual AtoN, does not physically existf4
Assigned mode flag10 = Station operating in autonomous and continuous mode = default 1 = Station operating in assigned mode
Spare1Spare. Not used. Should be set to zero. Reserved for future use
Name of Aids-to-Navigation Extension0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, … 84This parameter of up to 14 additional 6-bit-ASCII characters for a 2-slot message may be combined with the parameter ‘Name of Aids-to-Navigation’ at the end of that parameter, when more than 20 characters are needed for the name of the AtoN. This parameter should be omitted when no more than 20 characters for the name of the AtoN are needed in total. Only the required number of characters should be transmitted, i.e. no @-character should be used
Spare0, 2, 4, or 6Spare. Used only when parameter ‘Name of Aids-to-Navigation Extension’ is used. Should be set to zero. The number of spare bits should be adjusted in order to observe byte boundaries
Total 272-360 Occupies two slots

Table 5.2

Types of Aids to Navigation

NOTE 1 — The types of AtoN listed above are based on the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, where applicable.

NOTE 2 — There is potential for confusion when deciding whether an aid is lighted or unlighted. Competent authorities may wish to use the regional/local section of the message to indicate this.

CodeDefinition Maritime
0Default, Type of AtoN not specified
1Reference point
2RACON
3

Fixed structures offshore, such as oil platforms, wind farms.

(NOTE 1 — This code should identify an obstruction that is fitted with an AtoN AIS station)

4Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy
Fixed AtoN5Light, without sectors
6Light, with sectors
7Leading Light Front
8Leading Light Rear
9Beacon, Cardinal N
10Beacon, Cardinal E
11Beacon, Cardinal S
12Beacon, Cardinal W
13Beacon, Port hand
14Beacon, Starboard hand
15Beacon, Preferred Channel port hand
16Beacon, Preferred Channel starboard hand
17Beacon, Isolated danger
18Beacon, Safe water
19Beacon, Special mark
Floating AtoN20Cardinal Mark N
21Cardinal Mark E
22Cardinal Mark S
23Cardinal Mark W
24Port hand Mark
25Starboard hand Mark
26Preferred Channel Port hand
27Preferred Channel Starboard hand
28Isolated danger
29Safe Water
30Special Mark
31Light Vessel/LANBY/Rigs
  1. Figure 5-1Reference point for reported position of a maritime AtoN, or the dimension of an AtoN

Annotations

Footnotes

f1

In case an inland AtoN type code is being transmitted, this field (type of AtoN) shall be set to 0 = undefined

f2

When using Figure 5-1 for AtoN the following shall be observed:

  • For fixed AtoN, virtual AtoN, and for offshore structures, the orientation established by the dimension A shall point to true north.

  • For floating aids larger than 2 m * 2 m the dimensions of the AtoN shall always be given approximated to a circle, i.e. the dimensions shall always be as follows A = B = C = D ≠ 0. (This is due to the fact that the orientation of the floating AtoN is not transmitted. The reference point for reported position is in the centre of the circle.)

  • A = B = C = D = 1 shall indicate objects (fixed or floating) smaller than or equal to 2 m * 2 m. (The reference point for reported position is in the centre of the circle.)

  • Floating offshore structures that are not fixed, such as rigs, shall be considered as Code 31 type from Table 5.2. These structures shall have their ‘Dimension/reference for position’ parameter as determined above in Note (1).

    For fixed offshore structures, Code 3 type from Table 5.2, shall have their ‘Dimension/reference for position’ parameter as determined above in Note (1). Hence, all offshore AtoN and structures have the dimension determined in the same manner and the actual dimensions are contained in Message 21.

f3

For Inland AIS AtoN report this field shall be used to indicate the Inland AtoN type using page 001

f4

When transmitting virtual AtoN information, i.e. the virtual/pseudo AtoN Target Flag is set to one (1), the dimensions shall be set to A = B=C = D = 0 (default). This shall also be the case, when transmitting ‘reference point’ information