Garmin AIS, Automatic Information System, constantly broadcasts a vessel’s information, such as Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI), location, speed, GPS heading, last position, nearest approach, and projected course for situational awareness and collision avoidance.
Garmin AIS has a safe-zone collision alarm that alerts yacht owners when other vessels are in proximity that could result in a collision. Garmin AIS can also receive distress signals from Search and Rescue Transmitters (SARTs) and Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The Garmin Broadcast Warning Message is received by default. Yacht owners need to explicitly enable this feature.