With the development of global marine transport, the information blocking problem in the Automatic Identification System is becoming worse. The safety of navigation has been affected seriously by the failed collision warning. The emerging VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) integrates the functionality of ASM and VDE on the basis of the original AIS function. The background and composition of VHF data exchange system are described; the development status of VDES is introduced and the development of relevant international standards is summarized.