Ships rely on AIS as radar replacement 'at their peril'.

(From Lloyds List)

THE debate appears to be over. The automatic identification system is not, after all, a security tool, it is a navigational aid. If only life were that simple...

'Is AIS about navigation? Not as far as I'm concerned,' says one industry observer. 'The ability to use AIS to interrogate ships' critical data is happening now. It is an option to provide that data over AIS as you are approaching port and there are plenty of authorities that will want to do that.'

In its conceptual form, AIS is a navigation tool, designed to send and receive short burst messages between ships confirming ID, heading and speed between vessels operating in …