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US approval for SRT’s Class B AIS
01 May 2007
A Somerset firm’s design of a device to identify and track small vessels has been approved by the US Coast Guard paving the way for a rosy future, writes Katina Read.
Hi-tech communications specialist Software Radio Technology is billing its AIS Class B transceiver as the world’s first low-cost device which will allow authorities to keep track of small commercial and leisure vessels.
The transceiver can also be used in the fight against sea-borne terrorism.
The AIS system was first made compulsory for ships over 300 tonnes in 2002 and since then sales have been steadily increasing. SRS began developing this less expensive system for smaller vessels two years ago.
'It cost us millions to develop but that's now paying off,' said MD Simon Tucker. 'We believe this paves the way for the wider rollout of AIS.'
SRT is working with more than 20 manufacturers to launch Class B transponders worldwide this year.
The technology will be licensed to other firms with SRT taking a royalty on each unit sold.
