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Can AIS be hacked? Does it matter?

5/7/2014

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As you've probably guessed, the answer is "yes" and "yes." AIS (Automatic Identification System) is required on ships over 300 gross tons and all passenger-carrying vessels. Marine navigation aids (lighthouses, buoys) are also being equipped with AIS transmitters.

Your boat may not be required to have AIS but you may rely on it to give you information about navigation aids or ships near your area. At a 2013 security conference in Kuala Lumpur a team of computer security experts (using homemade equipment) showed how they found a way to fake ship positions, collision alerts and weather forecasts, among eight types of security attacks.The team also demonstrated how they created an imaginary ship off the coast of Italy.

"The team said that except for the fake ship creation off the Italian coast, all other attacks were conducted in controlled lab environments. They also informed various coast guards and marine-based agencies before carrying out their tests, including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which designed the AIS." (Professional Mariner, Oct. 16, 2013)

The team explained that AIS has no authentication or security mechanisms, so hacking is possible. Apparently when AIS was introduced about 10 years ago, the developers didn't consider security measures for the system. Similar security flaws are apparently found in
two other essential marine navigation technologies: GPS and ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) used by ships for viewing digital nautical charts.

The ramifications of having fake data showing up on AIS, GPS and ECDIS screens are serious. Collisions, terrorist opportunities and piracy against shipping could be created by criminal hackers. We will see how long it takes to put strong security mechanisms into these vital systems.

For more details on this security threat see   http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/23/us-cybersecurity-shipping-idUSBREA3M20820140423
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Very Important Safety Gear: the VHF-DSC Radio

10/28/2013

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If you have a digital selective calling (DSC) radio aboard (it has a red “distress” button on the front), have you read the radio’s manual for this important piece of safety gear? Does the radio have an integral GPS or must it be connected to an existing GPS or a GPS chart plotter on the boat? The Coast Guard reports that 80% of the VHF-DSC Mayday calls have no vessel location because the radio is not connected to an operating GPS. Without a precise location, rescuers cannot respond quickly to the emergency. If the instructions in the radio and GPS manuals about hooking the radio up to a GPS look too complicated, contact a marine electronics installer and get it done. The cost is worth it. If the radio has a built-in GPS, then you only need an MMSI number.

Any DSC radio must have an MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number programmed into it so the emergency feature works. This number identifies the vessel; you will fill out an application form with the boat information. If the boat will operate only in U.S. waters, you can get a number for free from BoatUS (www.BoatUS.com/MMSI).

If a U.S.-registered boat travels to foreign waters (Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean or abroad) you will need to get the MMSI number, for a small fee, from the FCC at
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home.

After you’ve hooked up the DSC radio to a GPS, read the radio manual and see what else a DSC radio can do for you. There is a very nice tutorial about DSC radio on the BoatUS website at http://www.boatus.com/foundation/dsc/player.html.
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AIS - what is it? Do I need it?

2/15/2013

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It’s a very useful electronic navigation aid in some, but not all waters. If your boating activities take place mainly in areas where there are few or no large vessels, AIS may be of minimal value. AIS transmitters send details about the vessels and navigation aids that are equipped with transmitters. AIS receivers display the information on a dedicated screen or as an overlay to interfaced electronic instruments, such as a chart plotter or radar. A recreational boat owner may choose either a receive-only AIS or an AIS that also transmits his/her vessel information. Various maritime authorities are considering making AIS mandatory on more types of small commercial vessels and possibly recreational boats. Take a look at the AIS entries on pp.13-14 in the Mariner’s Guide, read the articles in the boating press, and keep an eye out for future requirements for pleasure craft. For an interesting website that displays worldwide, real-time data from vessels equipped with AIS, see www.marinetraffic.com/ais
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    Priscilla Travis spends more than 110 days each year on the water, takes photos, and writes about nautical topics.

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DISCLAIMER: The information and advice on this website constitutes personal opinion, and must be understood as such. It’s offered to enhance public knowledge and promote a better understanding of nautical topics. It must never be considered a substitute for professional legal, medical, safety, or other advice.