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News about VDES

new VDES IALA Guidelines

IALA Council recently approved two new VDES guidelines, emphasizing the significance of VHF Data Exchange and its increasing adoption.

Find an updated list of VDES relevant ressources on our related page.

Specifically, G1192 VDES Authentication outlines how VDE-TER can be utilized to authenticate existing AIS transmissions for AIS Aids to Navigation (AtoN). This concept was demonstrated in a real-world setup by one of IALA’s members. In the past, presentations have been made to IMO NCSR, Maritime Connectivity Platform Consortium (MCP), and IALA, highlighting the threat posed by unauthenticated AIS transmissions and presenting the solution and performance of VDE-TER. The solution reduces the impact of unauthorized transmissions by enabling seafarers to identify unauthorized transmissions.

G1193 VDES signal measurement provides a guideline that outlines the necessary steps for conducting comparative VDES performance evaluations. IALA encourages everyone interested in presenting VDES performance to adhere to these guidelines to ensure that results are comparable when comparing measurements taken in a standardized manner.

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News about VDES

IMO MSC 110 Decisions

VDES to Become SOLAS Equipment – What This Means for the Maritime Industry

At its 110th session, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee endorsed the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) as SOLAS carriage requirement equipment, effective from January 1, 2028, as proposed by it’s subcommittee NCSR12.

This marks a significant step forward in maritime digitalization. VDES builds on AIS (Automatic Identification System) but offers increased bandwidth and improved reliability through both terrestrial and satellite communication channels. For shipowners, upgrading from AIS to VDES means access to enhanced data services, improved situational awareness, and long-term regulatory compliance.

Because VDES includes AIS functionality, it enables a smooth and future-proof transition from current systems to the new standard—ensuring continuity without operational disruption.

Already today, members deliver type-approved AIS transponders and AIS base stations that are future-proof by design. These systems are fully upgradeable to VDES, giving shipowners and port authorities a clear path to compliance and next-generation capability—without having to reinvest in entirely new infrastructure.

The transition to VDES represents more than just compliance—it’s an opportunity to build a more connected, safer, and smarter maritime domain.

IEC has already started its work to incorporate the IMO decisions into its draft VDES ship equipment test standard IEC 63514, targeted to reach CDV in 2026, allowing start of ship equipment type approvals.

A bit further details for the VDES nerds:

  • now, SOLAS chapter V will be adapted such that VDES or AIS can fulfill the earlier AIS carriage requirement
  • a new IMO VDES performance standard is approved
  • a new IMO VDES guideline is approved
  • access the draft documents through docs.imo.org; everybody can get an account there, just select “public user”
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RTCM publishes MMS Standard

RTCM published the new standard on the Maritime Messaging Service Architecture and Protocol RTCM 13900.0.

Summary: VDES needs a PKI, and the IALA endorsed Maritime Connectivity Platform defines amongst the decentralized Maritime Identity Registry also a decentralized Maritime Service Registry and the newly standardized Maritime Messaging Service to integrate with maritime environment impacted connectivity embracing internet via satcom and land mobile but also VDES, NAVDAT and other means of connectivity.

The Maritime Messaging Service (MMS) is facilitating world-wide resilient and flexible IP based transfer of trusted maritime service data.

The MMS embraces internet transfer where available, but also provides resilience through dedicated maritime communications such as terrestrial and satellite VDES (VDE-TER and VDE-SAT), NAVDAT, to accommodate existing means of communications on shore and ships.

The MMS unifies the service interface independent on the way the data takes. Only one service software is needed to provide the data for the different transport means. IEC 63173-2 (SECOM) is supported through a defined MMS SECOM Gateway.

The MMS unifies the service consumer application interface, independent on the way the data takes.

Scaling of service data transfer rates can be accommodated through clever use of the Maritime Connectivity Platform Maritime Service Registry.

Data may take for different ships, different ways, the MMS routes only the data, an application has subscribed to on shore or ship.

To allow users to trust the MMS as a safe message transfer system, all services, senders and infrastructure are authenticated through the mechanisms provided by the Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP), and as described by the IALA guideline G1183.

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VDES Alliance is starting

Some companies and organizations agreed that the VDES Alliance is a good idea. Therefore, we in a pre-consitutional meeting on the 24th of June, 2021, decided to start the VDES alliance by forming the terms of reference, membership conditions, categories, and all that, to be approved by the founding members. Then other members can join the VDES Alliance, if fulfilling all conditions.

All on this page is a DRAFT right now, don’t take it as the final step. This is just a working progress.