Automatic Identification System increases safety at Lake Maracaibo

SL-C600 AIS Enabled Lanterns Increase Safety in Lake Maracaibo

Sealite Distribution Partner, Construcciones Taromar, has undertaken one of the largest AIS (Automatic Identification System) projects consisting of 200 x AIS fitted SL-C600 self-contained 5-8NM lights installed on buoys in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. The project was undertaken by the Instituto Nacional Canalizaciones, which is the National Channel Authority.

Sealite’s AIS monitoring system operates on the international VHF Maritime Mobile Band and provides mariners in the broadcasting region crucial Message 21 information (as defined by the International Telecommunications Union) such as AtoN operational status and positioning. In addition, the AIS enabled AtoN broadcasts AIS Message 6 to the designated base station allowing the operator to monitor the AtoN for solar and battery voltage, flashcode setting and light status.

The AIS monitoring system for the Lake Maracaibo was incorporated into Sealite’s SL-C600 6NM solar marine lanterns enabling each navaid to be remotely monitored allowing vessels to accurately determine their position and safely navigate through the channel.

Located in Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo is the largest lake in South America and is one of the oldest lakes on earth. The lake acts as a major shipping route to the ports of Maracaibo and Cabimas with a dredged channel connecting the lake with the Gulf of Venezuela. The surrounding Maracaibo basin is one of the major oil-producing regions in the world making the region a major profit centre for Venezuela.

The project represents one of the world’s largest AIS-AtoN deployments to date.