Hadenough
Well-known member
Just noticed on Marine Traffic quite a few unspecified "vessels" named as "Drift net keep south" etc, etc, off Dungeness at the moment. Not seen them before, are they just what they suggest? Anyone any ideas?
AIS Drift net targets
- Thread starter Hadenough
- Start date
prv
Well-known member
Well, I suppose they could be a sort of hoax transmission, but it seems unlikely. I would take them at face value.
If the nets are going to be out there anyway, broadcasting their location on AIS seems like a good idea.
Pete
Hadenough
Well-known member
Agreed, just that I've never seen them before.
prv
Well-known member
Nor me.
I'm mildly curious as to where the 941 prefix came from. It's not a country MID, but nor is it listed in the ITU document that assigned similar prefixes to MOB beacons etc.
Pete
WF36
Well-known member
Quite often seen them on AIS off Clacton
lpdsn
New member
I thought drift nets were banned. Or is that just Ireland?
C08
Well-known member
Just looking at these on Marine Traffic. They seem about 5miles NE Dungeness then to Dungeness down to off Hastings. A total distance of about 20 miles and about 3 miles off. What a hazard particularly as most are not acquanted with drift nets and it is not always clear where they extend to. Just what you want, a disabled yacht just off the TSS?
prv
Well-known member
Hadenough
Well-known member
That'll be the lads from Jaywick then :encouragement:
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
SteveSarabande
Active member
I have had to avoid them several times, drift nets with north and south ais beacons on them, with a fishing vessel nearby keeping watch. Always west of dungeness, always lying across tide.
Suprised marine traffic picks them up they are low powered things normally. They are a pain if you ar sailing through the area.
Suprised marine traffic picks them up they are low powered things normally. They are a pain if you ar sailing through the area.
C08
Well-known member
Yes having them marked is good however I do think there should be legislation to stop drift nets being set across navigation into harbours, critical routes where a disabled boat is in danger eg inshore |Portland, Bardsey Sound, Jack Sound etc. Similarly lobster pots.
I would not wish to deprive anyone from earning a living but sometimes they take the p***.
pvb
Well-known member
How long are these drift nets typically? Do they use them at night? And are they always attended?
jwilson
Well-known member
Interesting: looks as though for US$190 you can have an AIS beacon with your own boat details programmed in. Anyone tried?
SteveSarabande
Active member
100-200m, yes, off dungeness they are out at night. They are often marked with a multicoloured flashing light. It flashes red,green,white rapidly, like a strobe
pvb
Well-known member
OK, so not miles of net then. How about attending fishing boats? Do they loiter about or just leave the net on its own to endanger sailors?
SteveSarabande
Active member
At Dungeness they loiter, looking for boats who might not see their net
prv
Well-known member
I'm surprised it's so short. There was a documentary a while back following some Cornish fishing boats, one of which was a drift netter, and while I don't remember a specific length being given they seemed to wind in miles of it at a time.
In that boat they would lurk near the nets and if something approach they would call on VHF. There was a dramatic sequence as the skipper tried to get in touch with a French trawler that was about to tow through the net. Suspect they probably wouldn't notice a small yacht at night unless it was transmitting AIS, though.
Pete
Hadenough
Well-known member
Hmm. Not so sure. Take a look at "Drift net 3" south of Hastings at the moment. The north and south beacons are around 2NM apart.
pvb
Well-known member
Hmmm, and right where yachts would be going.