Maritime Safety on Dutch Waterways – Saab to Deliver AIS System

Saab gets US$ 300,000 order to provide AIS equipment to the Dutch waterway authority Rijkswaterstaat

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from Rijkswaterstaat for delivery of an AIS (Automatic Identification System that will add to safety on the Dutch waterways.

The contract secures Saab to provide the complete technical system solution within the DIAMONIS project (Dutch Inland AIS Monitoring System). Saab has forged a partnership with the local company Tein Telecom, which will be responsible for implementing the project locally, providing 24/7 support and more. The delivery comprises approximately 40 AIS base stations, a network solution and a web-based presentation system.

Valued at over SEK 20 million the contract includes a number of future options, such as a possibel expansion of the system. The implementation of DIAMONIS will take place over 18 months.

The AIS system transmits regular information about a vessel's position, speed, course etc. to other vessels and operation centres. The vessels are equipped with a transponder, which automatically sends updated information via VHF radio at certain intervals. The system increases safety by enabling vessels to quickly discover how other vessels are behaving in order to detect potential collision risks.

"Saab is a market leader within the AIS domain and the system will increase safety significantly throughout the extensive Dutch inland waterways. Rijkswaterstaat is a highly competent authority that has produced a detailed specification for the project, meaning that our well-established system solution will be enhanced even further in terms of functionality and performance," says Lars Bergholtz, Managing Director for Saab TransponderTech AB.