Safe Sailing: Why an AIS System is Essential for Your Sailboat (and a Look at the Future with VDES)

May 31, 2025

Safe Sailing: Why an AIS System is Essential (and a Look at the Future with VDES)

Safety is paramount on the water, especially on busy waterways or unfamiliar coastlines. A good AIS (Automatic Identification System) makes you visible to others and gives you a view of the vessels around you. In this blog post, you'll learn what AIS is, how it works, the different versions available, and why it's essential on board. We'll also look ahead to its successor: VDES .

What exactly is AIS?

AIS is a global system where ships automatically transmit their position, speed, course, and name via a VHF frequency. Other ships and shore stations receive this information, giving everyone a better overview of the situation on the water. This increases safety, even in poor visibility or at night.

How does AIS help you as a sailor?

You see large ships approaching early, even out of sight.
Others see you too – crucial in fog or busy shipping lanes.
You gain insight into the name, type, speed and course of other ships.
AIS targets appear instantly on your chartplotter.

Difference between AIS Class A and Class B

Class A: mandatory for commercial vessels, with high transmission power and frequent updates.
Class B: Developed for pleasure craft and yachts. Compact, affordable, and easy to install.

For most sailors, an AIS Class B transceiver is the ideal choice: visible, reliable and power efficient.

Receiving or transmitting? The difference explained

Receiver only: You see others, but they can't see you. Limited security.
Transceiver: You see others, and they see you. The recommended option for maximum security.

B&G AIS solutions for sailors

NAIS-500 : compact Class B transceiver, low power consumption, easy to connect via NMEA2000.
VHF radios with AIS: The V60-B and V100-B combine VHF and AIS in one unit.

What is VDES and what does it mean?

VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) is the successor to AIS. It can exchange more data, over longer distances, and with less interference. Think of real-time weather data, dynamic updates, and ship-to-shore communication. For now, VDES is primarily still in development and being used by commercial companies. In the coming years, it will also be available for recreational boating. Until then, AIS remains the standard for every sailor.

Our advice: always choose visibility

As a sailor, you're vulnerable among larger vessels. Using an AIS transceiver increases your safety and allows you to maintain a clear overview with your B&G chartplotter. This allows you to sail with peace of mind and confidence.