AIS Implementation deadlines:
adopted by IMO Conference of Contracting Governments to the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974: 9 - 13 December 2002

All ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages and cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships irrespective of size shall be fitted with an automatic identification system (AIS), as follows:

1. ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;

2. ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002:
a. in the case of passenger ships, not later than 1 July 2003;
b. in the case of tankers, not later than the first survey for safety equipment* on or after 1July 2003;
c. in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards, not later than 1 July 2004;
d. in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards, but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than the first safety equipment survey after 1 July 2004 or by 31 December 2004, whichever occurs earlier;

3. ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, not later than 1 July 2008;

The following vessels are covered by the regulations and required to have a Ship Security Alert System installed:

1. Passenger ships, including high-speed passenger crafts - no later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2004

2. Oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and high-speed cargo vessels of 500 gross tonnage and upwards - no later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2004

3. Other cargo vessels of 500 gross tonnage and upwards - no later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2006

To assist in casualty investigations, cargo ships, when engaged on international voyages, shall be fitted with a VDR which may be a simplified voyage data recorder (S VDR) as follows:

• in the case of cargo ships of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2002, at the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2006 but not later than 1 July 2009;
• in the case of cargo ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 20,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2002, at the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2007 but not later than 1 July 2010; and
• Administrations may exempt cargo ships from the application of the requirements when such ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date specified above.