Heading and Projected Course of Activated AIS Targets
When heading and course over ground information are provided by an activated AIS target, the heading of the target appears on a chart as a solid line attached to the AIS target symbol. A heading line does not appear on a 3D chart view.
The projected course of an activated AIS target appears as a dashed line on a chart or a 3D chart view. The length of the projected course line is based on the value of the projected heading setting. If an activated AIS target is not transmitting speed information, or if the vessel is not moving, a projected course line does not appear. Changes in the speed, course over ground, or rate of turn information transmitted by the vessel can impact the calculation of the projected course line.
When course over ground, heading, and rate of turn information are provided by an activated AIS target, the projected course of the target is calculated based on the course over ground and the rate of turn information. The direction in which the target is turning, which is also based on the rate of turn information, is indicated by the direction of the barb at the end of the heading line. The length of the barb does not change.
![Red AIS target symbol with course heading](../Shared/GUID-8EEB2928-E689-4068-85AE-B223A81939A4-high.jpg)
When course over ground and heading information are provided by an activated AIS target, but rate of turn information is not provided, the projected course of the target is calculated based on the course over ground information.