Who uses AIS?

[cthippo]

Like thew title says, who uses it and what do you think of it?

[BTPost]

Every US Flagged, SOLAS Required Ship uses AIS... and it is for Shipping, what Transponders are to Aircraft....

Not only US flagged, All Ships under IMO SOLAs use AIS.

And I do.

What is your question?

[cthippo]

Originally Posted by apex1

What is your question?

How widely is it used by non-commercial vessels? Is it common in cruisers and passagemakers?

Originally Posted by cthippo

How widely is it used by non-commercial vessels? Is it common in cruisers and passagemakers?

Yes, long range cruisers have AIS today. The passagemakers we discuss on my threads will even have class A equipment as standard.

[fairbank56]

Go to marinetraffic.com and see for yourself. More and more recreational boaters are using transponders as opposed to receive only as the price continues to drop and more models are available.

Eric

[powerabout]

its a good system for yachties ( without radar)to know there is a larger vessel close by to get the f*ck out of the way so for that we have to thank homeland security for forcing the IMO to adopt an ill conceived, badly implemented system just so they could check on who was entering US waters.
Like other systems there have been radio assisted accidents, radar assisted accidents and now there is AIS assisted accidents.
Its a great tool to see if your mates vessel is in the same port as you can call and meet up

The average yachtie cannot even operate by radar, so the AIS is just another gimmick, simulating a safety feature.
For the skilled sailor it has some merits though, especially in mountaneous areas like the Agean Sea, or Kroatia.

Richard

[RHough]

Originally Posted by apex1

The average yachtie cannot even operate by radar, so the AIS is just another gimmick, simulating a safety feature.
For the skilled sailor it has some merits though, especially in mountaneous areas like the Agean Sea, or Kroatia.

Richard

Yes, being able to "see" a target that is blocked by terrain is very valuable. Knowing the Name, Call Sign, and MMSI # of the vessel is also handy.

In the last couple of years I have seen more incorrect installations however. One night this summer we passed an AIS equipped vessel where the Heading information was 90 wrong. SOG and COG had them making 16 knots to starboard. Not to mention vessels at anchor reporting "Underway", and vessels doing 10-20 knots reporting "Moored".

I've heard some people have the opinion that with AIS you no longer need radar. I do not agree. Having radar and knowing how to use MARPA plus AIS gives you a pretty good picture of what is going on around you.

I haven't decided to get a transponder yet, but I probably will in the next few years.

Originally Posted by RHough

In the last couple of years I have seen more incorrect installations however. One night this summer we passed an AIS equipped vessel where the Heading information was 90 wrong. SOG and COG had them making 16 knots to starboard. Not to mention vessels at anchor reporting "Underway", and vessels doing 10-20 knots reporting "Moored".

Most of those incorrect settings (the installation was probably right) are found on recreational craft and in the fishing fleet.
That makes it another "Toy" in the hands of careless or ignorant skippers, decreasing the value for the commercial world and serious yacht operators.

Personally I hate the idea of seeing the recreational fleet equipped with AIS transponders. That should not be allowed.

The idiotic opinion that one can skimp on radar when the vessel is AIS equipped fits exactly in my opinion about such "skippers", ignorant, impertinent, dangerous. But I have heard that several times already. Wonder how such ******* navigates where only small craft, or no vessel is around? Sure not by charts.

Regards
Richard

[fairbank56]

In the U.S., end users are not allowed to program any data into their class B transponders. It must be done by the vendor or professional installer. There is no setting in regards to status being anchored/moored/underway. That is a function of the receiving stations software. It may show a class B vessel as unknown, or anchored/moored or underway based on the vessels movement.

Eric

[Tim B]

Richard,

Niether AIS, nor Radar are a substitute for a good lookout and a pair of binoculars. Electronic charts are not an excuse for poor navigation. Even I (who have never been on a navigation course) could estimate a position reasonably well in coastal waters!

We need to separate the issues of electronic navigation from poor seamanship. Good seamanship is massively assisted by electronic aids. However, bad seamanship can only be improved by good teaching.

So, do we need qualifications to go yachting? Teaching a sensible syllabus and made affordable, yes. After all, what's £50 for two evenings classes in basic navigation?

Tim B.

[Submarine Tom]

Originally Posted by cthippo

Like thew title says, who uses it and what do you think of it?

Intelligent people interesting in living.

-Tom

[mydauphin]

Originally Posted by Tim B

Richard,

Niether AIS, nor Radar are a substitute for a good lookout and a pair of binoculars. Electronic charts are not an excuse for poor navigation. Even I (who have never been on a navigation course) could estimate a position reasonably well in coastal waters!

We need to separate the issues of electronic navigation from poor seamanship. Good seamanship is massively assisted by electronic aids. However, bad seamanship can only be improved by good teaching.

So, do we need qualifications to go yachting? Teaching a sensible syllabus and made affordable, yes. After all, what's £50 for two evenings classes in basic navigation?

Tim B.

Agreed, All these are great tools, but no substitute for looking out the window. In the Caribbean, since everyone travels through same roads in the ocean it is very easy to get run over by a container ship, or hit a floating container or a shallow in the middle of the sea. People just simply need to look out the window.

[Submarine Tom]

Your eyes and your chart are the primary navigational tools, however, the prudent skipper will use all means available to him or her. That includes radar on a clear, sunny day. In fact, as a commercial captain, it is my resposibility and obligation. AIS is simply another tool, how, or if, you use it, is up to you.

-Tom