AIS Messages
During operation, AIS receives and transmits service, text, and informational messages. Text messages are intended for information exchange between subscribers (vessels, base stations, AtoN).
Two types of text messages are transmitted: addressed and broadcast. Addressed messages are transmitted only to the selected subscriber. Broadcast messages are transmitted to all AIS stations within signal reception range.
ECDIS receives incoming messages from the onboard AIS and transmits outgoing messages.
Important
The function of receiving incoming messages and sending outgoing messages is available only when AIS is connected and properly configured in NSR ECDIS NES-3000.
Incoming Messages
Upon receiving a new incoming message (addressed or broadcast), ECDIS displays a notification.

Above the symbol of the target that sent the message, a new message symbol will be displayed
.

In the targets table, in the row of the target that sent the message, a received message icon will be displayed.
In the multifunction window (AIS tab), the Messages button will display a received message icon. ![]()
To view incoming messages, go to the Message list:
Menu path |
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Target form → |
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No. |
Element |
Description |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Incoming messages list |
Table of all received messages |
2 |
FROM |
Name of the message sender. The sender vessel name is displayed; if no name is available, the MMSI is displayed |
3 |
TO |
Message addressee. Broadcast — broadcast message, or own ship MMSI in the case of an addressed message |
4 |
TYPE |
Message type: Regular, SRM (Safety Related Message) |
5 |
Message date and time received (UTC) |
Timestamp of message reception in UTC format |
6 |
Message text display field |
Message text preview area |
7 |
Message text |
Full text of the received message |
8 |
Pin message |
Press to pin the message. A pinned message will always be displayed in the list regardless of the selected filter (12) and (13) |
9 |
Position ENC to sender position |
Center the chart on the message sender’s coordinates |
10 |
Delete message |
A deleted message cannot be restored |
11 |
Show |
Message type filter |
12 |
Filter by MMSI number |
Search messages by vessel identifier |
13 |
Filter by sender name |
Search messages by vessel name |
14 |
Send message |
Go to the message sending window. If an incoming message is selected and Addressed is chosen in the message sending form, the sender’s MMSI of the incoming message will be specified as the addressee |
Sending Messages (Outgoing Messages)
To send a message, navigate to the message sending form.
Sending a broadcast message:
Menu path |
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or |
target form → |
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or |
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Addressed message:
Menu path |
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or |
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The message sending window will open.

No. |
Element |
Description |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Message text field |
Area for entering the text of the message to be sent |
2 |
Addressed/Broadcast message |
Message type selection: enabled selector — addressed, disabled — broadcast. To create an addressed message, the addressee must be pre-selected in the targets table |
3 |
Safety Related Message (SRM) |
Enabled — the message is assigned SRM status |
4 |
Acknowledgement required |
Enabled — a request for addressee confirmation of message receipt is included in the message |
5 |
Output channel |
Selection of the AIS type of addressees for whom the message will be sent. Intended only for broadcast messages |
6 |
Transmitted message type |
Broadcast or Addressed — the MMSI of the addressee selected in the targets table is inserted |
7 |
Send |
Send the message |
8 |
Clear text |
Deletes the entered message in the text field (clears the text field) |
9 |
Message list |
Go to the message list |
10 |
Targets table |
Go to the targets table |
11 |
xxx/xxx |
Character counter in the message. Maximum message length is 150 characters |
12 |
Message text |
Preview of the full text of the entered message |
The sent message will be displayed in the message list.



