ABSTRACT: The satellite-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) system has continuously been developed by the shipping industry in recent years. This paper introduces the satellite-based AIS including the concept, the system structure, the development and its new applications. The Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system, which is mandatory to be required on certain classes of ships engaged on international voyages to report their position at least every six hours using onboard communication means however, has similar kind of function of ship monitoring with the satellite-based AIS system. Based on the basic introduction of the LRIT system, this paper presents the comprehensive comparison between satellite-based AIS and LRIT in terms of the ship's cost, the communication scheme, the monitoring coverage, the information details and the information creditability. The conclusion that the satellite-based AIS should be encouraged to effectively play a complement role to the LRIT system is advanced in the paper.

KEYWORDS: Automatic Identification System (AIS), Radiocommunication, Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), Satellite Based AIS, Navigational Tools, Monitoring Coverage, Communication Scheme, Identification System

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