Government goes Dutch on inland AIS
Santana received the 1,000th installation of an Alewijnse Marine Systems AIS transponder on an inland vessel based in the Netherlands.
A significant milestone was passed recently when Alewijnse Marine Systems recorded the 1000th installation of an AIS transponder on board an inland vessel based in the Netherlands.
A new regulation has recently been introduced that requires inland commercial vessels to have AIS installed before 2013, but Alewijnse is working with operators in the sector to ensure that they are fully compliant well ahead of the deadline.
Thanks to the introduction of its Explorer AIS system at the start of 2011, Alewijnse became the first Dutch company to offer a specialized inland AIS system and remains the largest single supplier in the region. Easy to install and exceptionally compact, the Explorer is just the first in a new range of inland AIS products from Alewijnse.
Government subsidy is driving demand. The units are currently being sold at a 100% discount on the €2,100 (excl. VAT) price due to a government grant of equal value that covers all European commercial vessels operating on Dutch inland waters until January 2013. In response to the resulting demand, the company is operating a system of staggered distribution to inland shipping operators from its offices in Rotterdam, Nijmegen and Drachten. Alewijnse handles the entire installation and commissioning process, as well as offering maintenance and support thereafter.
The Alewijnse AIS system claims to offer inland vessels a number of advantages. It integrates seamlessly with other onboard navigation electronics, the software is easy to use and the simple menu structure makes it straightforward to view critical information on other AIS equipped shipping in the vicinity. Alewijnse also offers a dual GPS / VHF antenna as an alternative to the usual dual antenna setup, and customers can choose between an inland and offshore configuration.
Alewijnse is also working with the Netherlands National Council for Inland Shipping
(Rijkswaterstaat) on its Corridor 895 AIS test project. This programme is evaluating the effectiveness of AIS on 895 inland vessels operating on the Rhine corridor and between the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Nijmegen. The results of the project will provide valuable information to the Dutch inland shipping industry.
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