The General Lighthouse Authorities (Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights) have established a series of trials in the Solent, Firth of Forth and Dublin to evaluate AIS.

The Dublin Trial was established in August 2002. Equipment and technical support is being provided by Kongsberg Seatex. Partners in the Dublin Trial are Dublin Port, Irish Ferries and Arklow Shipping. Seatex AIS100 mobile units fitted to a High Speed Ferry, Coastal Container Ship, Lighthouse Tender, Pilot Boat and Aids to Navigation form the core of the trial along with a Seatex AIS Base Station covering Dublin Port. As the mandatory carriage requirement is implemented the shipborne trials equipment will be replaced by permanent owner supply units.

The principal objectives of the trial are

1. To evaluate performance, system availability and potential of AIS in a VTS area.
2. To evaluate the effect of AIS operation on bridge team workload and situation awareness.
3. To establish the 'risk' of using AIS in ship to ship and ship to shore mode.
4. To evaluate the use of AIS on Aids to Navigation and Virtual Aids.
5. To evaluate the potential for AIS networking.
6. To test the interoperability of different manufacturers equipment.

In the coming months a full base station will be established at Baily Lighthouse in Dublin Bay to test the full range of AIS services.