Integration of Automatic Identification System (AIS) with Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) for Thai Maritime Enforcement Command (THAI-MECC)

Abstract

The objectives of this research are: 1) to study guidelines for using automated identification systems (AIS) for supporting maritime security operations; 2) to propose guidelines for integrating AIS systems in Thailand for supporting information exchange and strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness, and 3) to propose policy-driven approaches for the practical integration of AIS systems into MDA. This research is a quantitative research using Delphi technique. The study groups, who are related to the AIS system or Maritime Domain Awareness, are two focus groups which are government officials, i.e. people working in agencies under the SSC, and 2 people from each private port. Specially, the focus groups from each unit will be 2 classifications, 1 from executive level and the other from operational level. The research consists of 2 types of questionnaires which are an open-ended questionnaire to acquire the current facts of the AIS and MDA systems and closed-ended questionnaire with the rating scale method. The closed-ended questionnaire is developed from the answers of an open-ended questionnaire to prioritize each question. The statistics used in the data analysis were median, interquartile range. The summary of the research are as follows: 1. The guidelines for using the AIS system is necessary for the operation of the government agencies and other maritime units regarding maritime safety. 2. Integration of the AIS system from various maritime agencies for national maritime interest protection is necessary for completing the network structure of the AIS system that makes the system useful and understandable 3. The study about the policy guidelines for the integration of AIS systems reveals that AIS system structure and responsible organization are none. Thus, the purpose of the research is that the AIS systems should be under any governmental agency regarding maritime activities for authority and responsibility.