The seminar was given by Alfred Kotouczek-Zeise and Wolfgang Werner of Weatherdock who flew over from Germany. They were demonstrating several key products now available for boat owners who want to take advantage of AIS.

The system was initially developed as a collision avoidance tool for the commercial market but is now proving increasingly popular for leisure sailors. It uses VHF signals and GPS to constantly log the identity, location, track, course and speed of a vessel. This means vessels can be plotted on an electronic chart and contacted by VHF voice communication if necessary.

There are two classes of AIS fitted to vessels: Class A is mandatory under SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) regulations for passenger ferries and ships over 300 tonnes; Class B is the one most of us will be interested in; these units are not mandatory but are simpler to install and cost less for smaller vessels. If you have a Class B receiver linked to a chartplotter, it will still tell you which ships are where in the area and, if you have a transceiver (i.e. which transmits and receives signals) it will let other AIS vessels know your position and course etc.

It’s an ideal system for busy waters, at night, in bad weather and of course in poor visibility. Echopilot has fitted a VHF antenna on to the roof of ExCeL and, during the product demonstration, Alfred impressively showed how to track and identify vessels for 22 miles up the River Thames, using a chartplotter.

The key AIS products featured in the presentation and on display are the Easy TRX - a Class B transceiver, the Easy AIS – a Class B receiver and two Easy Split units which allow you to use your existing VHF aerial with the AIS system. Another innovative device on the stand is the Easy DVB T which amplifies digital signals to enhance TV reception on board. Prices for an AIS receiver start at £225.