ECDIS Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

Speed over ground is a vital piece of information that can be transmitted from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) regarding a vessel's status. AIS is designed to enhance maritime safety by providing real-time data about vessels’ positions and movements to other ships and shore stations. Speed over ground is essential for navigation and situational awareness, as it helps in assessing the vessel's progress over the seabed, which can be different from the speed through the water due to factors like currents or wind.

The other options, such as weather forecasts, cargo weight, and environmental conditions, are not transmitted through AIS. While weather forecasts are crucial for maritime operations, they require separate services (like meteorological reports) and are not part of the AIS functionality. Cargo weight specifics need to be recorded and managed separately and are not included in AIS data. Likewise, while environmental conditions are important for navigation and safety, they are typically monitored and communicated through different systems rather than through AIS.