Caution To Mid Atlantic AIS Users

NAVIGATING THE JAMES RIVER, YORK RIVER, UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY, DELAWARE BAY, NEW JERSEY SHORE, AND, NEW YORK HARBOR AND APPROACHES

YOU MAY BE INADVERTENTLY OPERATING ON DIFFERENT AIS CHANNELS

Between July 27 and August, 2010, while conducting development testing of its Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS), the Coast Guard inadvertently tele-commanded most AIS users transiting the Eastern United States between lower Connecticut and North Carolina to switch to AIS frequencies other than the AIS default frequencies (161.975 MHz - Channel 87B - 2087 and 162.025 MHz - Channel 88B - 2088). As a result, those users within uniquely defined channel management regions (as shown in the picture) will neither see nor be seen by vessels operating on the default AIS channels when within these regions. Similarly, vessels operating on default frequencies will not see or be seen by those vessels that were inadvertently switched to other frequencies. No other AIS users or areas are impacted.

One of the lesser known and potent features of AIS is its ability to operate on multiple channels
within the VHF-FM marine band. This frequency agility ensures AIS can be used even when the
default channels are otherwise unavailable orcompromised. In such conditions, competent
authorities, such as the Coast Guard, can use an AIS base station to tele-command shipborne AIS
devices to switch to other more appropriate channels when within defined regions of 200 to
2000 square nautical miles. This can be done automatically (and without user intervention)
through receipt of the AIS channel management message (AIS message 22) or manually entered via the AIS Minimal Keyboard Display (MKD) or similar input device. Once commanded or manually
entered, the channel management information will stay in memory for 5 weeks or until an affected
vessel moves more than 500 nautical miles from the defined region. AIS channel management commands can only be manually overridden or erased by the user via the unit's channel (regional frequencies) management function1 or automatically overridden via another channel management message for the same defined region. Reinitializing or resetting your AIS or transmission channels will not necessarily reprogram your unit back to the default channels.

Commencing September 1st and continuing for the subsequent 5 weeks, the Coast Guard will broadcast new channel management messages that will tele-command all AIS users back to default channels. This broadcast will occur each hour between hh.05:30 and hh.05:59, but may change as
needed. To ensure that these messages are received, they will be broadcast on Channel 70--Digital
Selective Calling (DSC), which is also monitored by all type-certified shipboard AIS. While this will
ensure all AIS users will get the message regardless of what AIS channel the unit is operating on, it
could however cause a minor inconvenience to owners of older DSC radios who may receive an alert (tone) upon receipt of this message. It will have no other effect on DSC radios.

AIS users are encouraged to inform others whom they believe may be affected and are therefore not being seen by others. All AIS users are reminded to maintain their AIS in effective operating condition and to validate their AIS data prior to each voyage and as needed.

This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational or material requirement. The Coast Guard has developed policy and
procedures to ensure such inadvertent broadcast do not happen again and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. For further information on AIS Channel Management or reprogramming your AIS read FAQ#19 at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=AISFAQ#19 or contact cgnav@uscg.mil. Developed by the Office of Waterways Management, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
Washington, DC.

1 The following settings, if found in your AIS Channel Management / Regional Frequency pane,
should be overridden (as denoted) prior to navigating therein; if you do not find these settings / regions in this pane you are not affected and need do nothing.

Setting / Region X (MD, DE, PA, J, NY Area)
NE Corner: 41º 07.60 N, 073º 49.10' W (41.1266667 -73.8183333)
SW Corner: 38º 21.90' N, 078º 10.40 W (38.3650000 -78.1733333)
Channel 1/ A / AIS1: 1022 / Ch.22B [should be change to 2087 / 87B]
Channel 2 / B / AIS2: 2022 / Ch.22 [should be change to 2088 / 88B]

Setting / Region Y (VA Area)
NE Corner: 37º 42.00' N, 76º 43.80' W (37.7000000 -76.7300000)
SW Corner: 36º 32.00' N, 79º 8.00' W (36.5333333 -79.1333333)
Channel 1 / A / AIS1: 1027 / Ch.27B [should be change to 2087 / 87B]
Channel 2 / B / AIS2: 2006 / Ch.6 [should be change to 2088 / 88B]

Also:

The US Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Alert cautioning AIS users to check their AIS units to ensure that those units are operating on the correct frequencies. Between July 27 and August 2010, the Coast Guard inadvertently tele-commanded most AIS units operating in the eastern United States between lower Connecticut and North Carolina to switch to frequencies other than the AIS default frequencies (161.975 MHz Channel 87B 2087 and 162.025 MHz Channel 88B 2088). Those affected AIS units will not see or be seen by other AIS units until switched back to the default frequencies. Commencing September 1 and continuing for five weeks, the Coast Guard will broadcast new channel management messages that will tele-command AIS units back to the default frequencies. It is recommended that, despite this effort, users manually check their AIS units to ensure that they are operating on the correct frequencies. The Coast Guard apologizes for any inconvenience its action may have caused. Alert 7-10 (8/28/10).

Ummm, I believe that is what I posted Keith.

Doesn't look identical to me.