One of the central means for strengthening maritime safety and protecting the environment is the introduction of the “Universal Automatic Identification System” or AIS. At present there is no land based AIS infrastructure in the Northern Periphery area outside Norway and trial equipment in Scotland, and knowledge about AIS in the area is limited. The Safety@Sea project will use experience from other AIS implementation projects to spread knowledge and awareness about AIS technology and its possibilities in the local maritime communities. It will also target other areas of maritime safety such as improving fishing vessel safety culture, especially aboard those boats operating in the Northern Periphery area, where remoteness and comparative scarcity of search and rescue resources exacerbate the difficulties of responding successfully to an emergency. In addition, the project will enhance international co-operation to prepare for large-scale emergency response coordination.