Fitting a device

Whether you invest in your own AIS device or end up sailing on a boat equipped with them, you must understand how each device works and keep reminding yourself. Personal AIS devices can be operated manually or can trigger automatically on contact with water or inflation of the lifejacket. This is known as semiautomatic activation, and units will require ‘arming’ before automatic activation is possible.

If installing your own device inside a lifejacket ensure you are fully compliant with manufacturer’s guidelines. Devices that are activated on inflation require the ‘trigger’ string to be set at a specific length. If in any doubt ask a service agent to fit the device for you. Don’t forget to arm each device once fitted, and check that devices fitted by agents have been armed once they are returned.

When borrowing lifejackets with devices already installed, open the jacket cover and check your device is armed. Take note of how it is attached to the jacket itself, check battery expiry dates and note the manual sequence for activation. These checks should be regularly made even if you own and have fitted your own AIS device.

How to test

Personal AIS devices should be tested at least every six months and every time they are used on a new vessel. To test for signal the device must be activated for a short while. As the

AIS device is not a recognised distress signal there is no protocol for testing (for EPIRBS and