IEC 61993-2-2018 PDF

Full title and description

Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Automatic identification systems (AIS) - Part 2: Class A shipborne equipment of the automatic identification system (AIS) - Operational and performance requirements, methods of test and required test results. This third edition updates performance, testing and interfacing requirements for Class A shipborne AIS equipment and incorporates relevant ITU and IMO technical characteristics and recommendations.

Abstract

IEC 61993-2:2018 specifies minimum operational and performance requirements, the methods of testing and the required test results for Class A shipborne AIS equipment. The standard aligns AIS Class A technical characteristics with ITU-R Recommendation M.1371 (latest referenced edition) and IMO performance resolutions, adds provisions for additional locating-device groups (EPIRB AIS and MOB AIS), optional modern IEC NMEA-style interfaces, bridge alert management and software update handling, and introduces security and extended-dimension provisions relevant to towing vessels and new device classes.

General information

• Status: Published / Current.
• Publication date: 19 July 2018 (IEC publication date; national adoptions were published later in 2018).
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 47.020.70 (Navigation and control equipment).
• Edition / version: Edition 3.0 (2018).
• Number of pages: 302 (IEC published document page count; some regional/adopted EN/NF/BS versions list a different page count for their publication format).

Scope

IEC 61993-2:2018 sets out the functional, performance and testing requirements for Class A shipborne AIS transponders and associated means of input/output and interfacing. It ensures conformance with IMO performance standards (MSC resolutions) and ITU-R technical characteristics, defines test methods and required results, and specifies requirements where they take precedence over IEC 60945 when differences occur. The scope also covers optional modern digital interfaces and requirements for new locating-device groupings (e.g., EPIRB AIS, MOB AIS) and alerting behaviour on the bridge.

Key topics and requirements

• Minimum operational and performance requirements for Class A shipborne AIS equipment.
• Mandatory and optional test methods and required test results to demonstrate compliance.
• Incorporation of ITU-R M.1371 technical characteristics (including M.1371-5 updates referenced in this edition).
• Introduction of locating-device groups to include EPIRB AIS and MOB AIS in addition to AIS SART.
• Security feature additions for configuration input (new SSA statement) and provisions for software update management.
• Optional implementation and interfacing with IEC 61162-450 and IEC 61162-460 (networked/NMEA-style interfaces).
• Bridge alert management (BAM) requirements and extended dimension values relevant to towing vessels.
• Priority where this standard differs from IEC 60945: requirements of IEC 61993-2 take precedence for the subjects it covers.

Typical use and users

Manufacturers of shipborne AIS transponders and integrated bridge systems, test and certification laboratories, classification societies, flag administrations, shipyards and system integrators use this standard to design, test, certify and procure Class A AIS equipment and ensure interoperability with shipboard navigation and communication systems. Maritime safety regulators and flag/port state control authorities reference it when assessing equipment compliance with IMO performance requirements.

Related standards

Key related documents referenced or aligned with IEC 61993-2:2018 include ITU‑R Recommendation M.1371 (AIS technical characteristics), IEC 60945 (marine equipment general requirements; superseded where IEC 61993-2 prescribes different requirements), IEC 61162-450 and IEC 61162-460 (networked bridge equipment interfaces), and relevant IMO resolutions (for example MSC.74(69) Annex 3 and others cited in the standard). National/adopted EN or NF versions exist (EN IEC 61993-2:2018 etc.) for regional application.

Keywords

AIS, Automatic Identification System, Class A, shipborne transponder, AIS SART, EPIRB AIS, MOB AIS, performance requirements, test methods, ITU‑R M.1371, IEC 61162-450, bridge alert management, maritime navigation, IMO MSC.74(69), software update, IEC 60945.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61993-2:2018 is the international standard that defines operational and performance requirements, test methods and required test results for Class A shipborne AIS equipment (Automatic Identification System, Class A transponders).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers functional and performance characteristics of Class A AIS transponders, required test procedures and pass/fail criteria, interfaces to bridge equipment (including optional IEC 61162-450/460 implementations), locating-device group definitions (EPIRB/MOB/AIS SART), bridge alert management, software update requirements and configuration security considerations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, test laboratories, certification bodies, classification societies, shipyards, ship operators, flag administrations, and maritime safety regulators use the standard for product design, type approval, procurement and compliance verification.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 61993-2:2018 is the current (third) edition published in 2018; it cancels and replaces the 2012 edition. The IEC webstore lists the document as published in July 2018 and identifies stability information for the publication (stability date noted on the IEC entry).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. IEC 61993 is a multipart series addressing shipborne automatic transponder/AIS topics. Part 2 addresses Class A equipment; other parts (for example IEC 61993-1 and earlier parts) cover related shipborne transponder system installation and related topics (some earlier parts have been withdrawn or superseded as the technology and regulatory framework evolved).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: AIS, Class A, shipborne equipment, performance requirements, test methods, ITU‑R M.1371, IEC 61162-450/460, bridge alert management, EPIRB AIS, MOB AIS, IMO performance standards.