IEC 61162-1:2016

Overview

IEC 61162-1:2016 - Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Digital interfaces - Part 1: Single talker and multiple listeners defines one-way serial data communication for connected maritime instruments and radio/navigation equipment. It standardizes printable ASCII sentence formats (typical messages 11–79 characters, generally ≤1 message/s) to convey information such as position, speed, depth, frequency allocation and similar navigational data. The electrical definitions are for low-bandwidth serial links and are not intended for high-bandwidth applications (radar, video, large file transfers). Due to limited error checking and no guaranteed delivery, use in safety-critical systems is cautioned.

Key topics and requirements

• Data transmission model: Single talker, multiple listeners (one-way serial).
• Data format protocol: Character sets, fields, sentence structure, checksum, sequential identifiers, multi-sentence messages, timing and error handling.
• Message constraints: Printable ASCII, typical length 11–79 characters, transmission rate generally no faster than one message per second.
• Electrical and hardware specs: Interconnecting wire, conductor and shielding requirements, connectors, talker drive and listener receive circuits, electrical isolation and maximum bus voltage.
• Error handling: Limited error detection and handling mechanisms - not suitable where guaranteed delivery is required.
• Document updates (Edition 5 highlights):
  • New identifiers added to the sentence table.
  • Several new sentences added (e.g., ACN, ALC, MOB, NSR, RRT, TRL, etc.).
  • Removal of certain AIS shore-only sentences (CBR, MEB).
  • Revisions to existing sentences (ABK, ABM, GNS, NAK, NRM, RMC, ROR, TTD).
  • Revised test methods in Annex B.

Applications and who uses it

IEC 61162-1 is used to ensure interoperability of marine electronics and to standardize low-bandwidth data exchange between devices such as navigation instruments, radios and shipboard sensors. Typical users:

• Marine electronics manufacturers and designers
• Shipyards and system integrators
• Marine system installers and maintenance engineers
• Ship operators and fleet technical teams seeking predictable instrument data flows
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies

Practical benefits include simplified cabling and integration, consistent data formats for logging and display, and predictable behavior for listeners across vendor equipment.

Related standards

• IEC 61162-2 - for higher-rate multi-transmitter systems (faster transmission requirements)
• IEC 62320 series - for shore-based AIS applications and longer-range AIS data exchange

Keywords: IEC 61162-1, maritime navigation standard, digital interfaces, single talker multiple listeners, serial data transmission, ASCII sentences, marine equipment interoperability.