AIS

[Momac]

Tell that to the judge.

Quoted in isolation doesn't sound too good does it. However I am suggesting it is necessary to take a more cautious approach than that might be interpreted from the colregs when navigating in the vicinity of ships.

 

[BelleSerene]

Quoted in isolation doesn't sound too good does it. However I am suggesting it is necessary to take a more cautious approach than that might be interpreted from the colregs when navigating in the vicinity of ships.

Yes, I do appreciate that. Still, the colregs being the collision - er - regulations, when anything happens and you weren’t following them, tell that to the judge! ‘Cautious’ quoted in isolation sounds fine. But in practice, if you weren’t obeying the regulations, you’re the guilty party!

 

[stu9000]

Using a laptop you can use the free opencpn software with visitmyharbour maps. Not free but cheap.

I got as far as getting the GPS dongle and the maps to work in opencpn.

The plan is to fit a vhf antenna at the top of the mast and buy the AIS box of tricks which will, hopefully, all plug into the laptop without too much head scratching. Lots have done it.

I'm more used to navionics for passage planning but I don't know if its possible to link with ais.

Currently im pottering up the coast rather than crossing shipping lanes but once I do start heading for France and Holland I will definitely get AIS albeit as cheaply as possible.

Good luck with it
S

 

[Hoolie]

Yes, I do appreciate that. Still, the colregs being the collision - er - regulations, when anything happens and you weren’t following them, tell that to the judge! ‘Cautious’ quoted in isolation sounds fine. But in practice, if you weren’t obeying the regulations, you’re the guilty party!

I think you're being a bit over dramatic. Surely don't most of us do our best to just keep clear of the big guys? I don't have a lot of experience crossing the Channel but we are very careful to keep clear of commercial shipping but they are aware of us and usually make small changes to course when we have cross their track.

 

[PaulRainbow]

That's daft, just trying to be provocative.
Each to his own, some abide to Collision Regs and some don't.

With receive only AIS i can see where the other vessels are, where they are heading and what speed they are traveling. I can take early action to prevent a risk of collision developing, all in accordance with Colregs. Relying on other vessels to see me on AIS and to hope that they will give way should a give way/stand on situation develop if pure folly. If it's large commercial shipping, they might be unable to give way, if it's a leisure vessel how do i know if he has AIS or if he's seen me ?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yes, I do appreciate that. Still, the colregs being the collision - er - regulations, when anything happens and you weren’t following them, tell that to the judge! ‘Cautious’ quoted in isolation sounds fine. But in practice, if you weren’t obeying the regulations, you’re the guilty party!

Nothing in Colregs about using receive only AIS to prevent risk of collisions occurring by taking early action.

 

[LadyInBed]

With receive only AIS i can see where the other vessels are, where they are heading and what speed they are traveling. I can take early action to prevent a risk of collision developing, all in accordance with Colregs.

Exactly as it should be, but it isn't always as neat as that. When you have a convoy of ships heading down channel, altering course / slowing to give the first ship priority can often put you in conflict with the next ship in line and if you continue that course of action for all ships in the convoy you will appear to be dithering and give the impression that you don't know what you are doing. This can only reinforce that impression that some professionals have of amateur sailors.

Relying on other vessels to see me on AIS and to hope that they will give way should a give way/stand on situation develop if pure folly.

Not folly if you see on your AIS that they have changed course. If they have not, it leads back to what I posted in another thread "I get on the radio to him, ask if he has seen me and what course of action he intends to take."

If it's large commercial shipping, they might be unable to give way,

Ships unable to give way do (should) display shapes / lights to indicate that, and I have a thought at the back of my mind that the detailed AIS display for that ship also tells me.

if it's a leisure vessel how do i know if he has AIS or if he's seen me ?

You don't, that's why you should adhere to Collision Regs

 

[PaulRainbow]

Exactly as it should be, but it isn't always as neat as that. When you have a convoy of ships heading down channel, altering course / slowing to give the first ship priority can often put you in conflict with the next ship in line and if you continue that course of action for all ships in the convoy you will appear to be dithering and give the impression that you don't know what you are doing. This can only reinforce that impression that some professionals have of amateur sailors.


Not folly if you see on your AIS that they have changed course. If they have not, it leads back to what I posted in another thread "I get on the radio to him, ask if he has seen me and what course of action he intends to take."

Ships unable to give way do (should) display shapes / lights to indicate that, and I have a thought at the back of my mind that the detailed AIS display for that ship also tells me.

You don't, that's why you should adhere to Collision Regs

All fair points, but i can't see where transmitting AIS changes any of them.

 

[poter]

OK having read all the reply's I am now looking at getting a transmitter/receiver, however as I have to spend quite a bit of cash on up-grading Shady for the future, costs are paramount on new kit.
An AIS looks to be very expensive and I need it to work with my PC and Navionics charts. So what bit of kit is the best value for money & from whom?

 

[Momac]

All fair points, but i can't see where transmitting AIS changes any of them.

It doesn't.
But if you are transmitting AIS it may help the ships or other vessels or other people monitor your position accurately and if necessary take action to keep you in a position of safety.

On one occasion VTS spotted me on AIS and asked me to take action to avoid disturbing the survey boat. It was not a collision situation. Nevertheless the fact that VTS could see our position added comfort that they were aware of our presence.

A benefit with transmission is being able to keep an eye on the position of other boats who you might be travelling with.
I once kept an eye on progress of a motorboat who had engine trouble. I could see, on the AIS (using the internet) , he had made it into port.

Therefore transmitting AIS has some safety benefits

 

[Daydream believer]

I have had AIS for 3 years now. the wife likes it as she can follow my progress on marine traffic on line
In the 3 years I have been called up by ships on a couple of occasions. Once by a ship 4 miles away to advise that he was about to change course in the Dover strait as he was restricted by draft ( 20 metres) & once by a ship asking me not to change course ( i was stand on vessel) as he was about to alter his course to avoid me ( did not look like it) . I have been called by Dover CG to help find a vessel off N Foreland reported from land as being in distress ( it turned out to be me & I was not!!!) By Cap Griz Nez CG asking my details. Dover port control as I approach often call, same once for Zeebrugge as a vessel was departing to advise me. I have been called up by a cable laying vessel asking me to keep clear at night- this was handy as the lights were difficult to determine as it was going in reverse!!!
But I have used it several times to call ships by name when crossing shipping lanes & wanted to check with approaching vessels first. Esp when one did not see me , altered course without looking & nearly run me down.
So I find the transmit function very useful. I did pay extra for the run silent facility for when i sail in local & very busy waters such as Solent as it just annoys the local boats.

 

[maby]

The other aspect of AIS which is very valuable and which has not been discussed here is the identification of other boats and assistance in contacting them. On a number of occasions I have wanted to talk to the bridge of another vessel to clarify their intentions - most recently in Southampton where a dredger was zig-zagging across the channel I needed to follow. Without AIS, you can find yourself calling "Big black lump wandering along the Solent, this is yacht ....., can you confirm your intentions please?" With AIS, you will know its name, have an indication of its intentions and be in a much better position to talk to it. With a fully integrated system, you can point to it on your plotter screen and your VHF will make a DSC call to it - much more likely to be noticed on the bridge of a big ship than a crackly voice call coming in on channel 16.

 

[[70521]]

I transmit and receive; I have found their greatest use is letting family know I am on the mooring and I'll be home quite soon.

Only once In the last two years I've been called up on the VHF using the boat name by the very nice people at Lulworth Range, they called me Sir, and advised me that they were live firing and would I kindly move another mile offshore.

Looking at the details of the ships passing across my bows in the TSS is fun, but the Mark 1 eyeball is my primary source of information.

 

[RichardS]

The receiver/transceiver argument is a no-brainer really, as others have said.

You have to install and connect up either unit and the level of complication is very similar. The power consumption of either unit is also negligible in relation to everything else.

There is no rationale argument that suggests that a transceiver is not safer than a receiver so it all boils down to cash. If you can afford a transceiver then go for it. If you could afford the transceiver by saving for a few months, then save for it. If you will never be able to afford a transceiver, then buy a receiver.

The only option which is not a no-brainer is whether to go for a wi-fi equipped transceiver. If you use a laptop or tablet or smart-phone on board then I would say the wi-fi option is well-worth paying/saving for. If you have no interest in laptops etc. then forget it.

Richard

 

[Daydream believer]

Most of the time the whole lot can be switched off. It's one of a group of items that are handy when you need them but a huge percentage of the time are no use whatever, like fenders, crew and suchlike.
A laptop is a different kettle of fish but I guess you don't have one of those.

No I have a kettle of fish either. Do you find it handy? I know it has been mentioned from time to time but not seen one at the boat show.
Is it the same as a Raspberry Pi or more like a Fray Bentos?

 

[maby]

The receiver/transceiver argument is a no-brainer really, as others have said.

You have to install and connect up either unit and the level of complication is very similar. The power consumption of either unit is also negligible in relation to everything else.

There is no rationale argument that suggests that a transceiver is not safer than a receiver so it all boils down to cash. If you can afford a transceiver then go for it. If you could afford the transceiver by saving for a few months, then save for it. If you will never be able to afford a transceiver, then buy a receiver.

The only option which is not a no-brainer is whether to go for a wi-fi equipped transceiver. If you use a laptop or tablet or smart-phone on board then I would say the wi-fi option is well-worth paying/saving for. If you have no interest in laptops etc. then forget it.

Richard

It is lucky that relatively few of us think that AIS transmit is worth having - MMSI numbers are in short supply and I'm not sure there are enough unallocated to give one to every leisure sailor!

 

[[70521]]

It is lucky that relatively few of us think that AIS transmit is worth having - MMSI numbers are in short supply and I'm not sure there are enough unallocated to give one to every leisure sailor!

Taken that the first three numbers are for nation of the number that gives 999,999 numbers available for UK use. It would be interesting to find out the number of MMSI registrations issued.

 

[CLB]

It is lucky that relatively few of us think that AIS transmit is worth having - MMSI numbers are in short supply and I'm not sure there are enough unallocated to give one to every leisure sailor!

What has MMSI got to do with AIS? You get an MMSI number with a DSC VHF.

 

[TSB240]

OK having read all the reply's I am now looking at getting a transmitter/receiver, however as I have to spend quite a bit of cash on up-grading Shady for the future, costs are paramount on new kit.
An AIS looks to be very expensive and I need it to work with my PC and Navionics charts. So what bit of kit is the best value for money & from whom?

I purchased a Matsutec HP33A nearly three years ago and have found that this has met similar needs to your self. I would be surprised if there is a lower price alternative available.

To simplify installation I use a pushpit mounted dedicated Metz AIS Vhf aerial from Salty John. This can also be used with an emergency patch lead to your main VHF should you be dismasted.
There is no need for masthead mounting as I have regularly seen ships take avoiding action at up to 15 miles, well out of visible range.

I do not have a permanently fitted radar reflector but do have radar which only very rarely gets any use any longer. I would recommend that you have the AIS display in the cockpit at your helm or or under your spray hood.

It is worth remembering that large fishing boats have been known to turn off their AIS and anything weighing less than 400 tons (without AIS transmission) is still likely to do a lot of damage to you! In poor conditions radar really could be a lifesaver but in my case is very power hungry.



Steve

 

[johnalison]

It is worth remembering that large fishing boats have been known to turn off their AIS and anything weighing less than 400 tons (without AIS transmission) is still likely to do a lot of damage to you! In poor conditions radar really could be a lifesaver but in my case is very power hungry.

Although I don't have one myself, the new radars use very little current. I have had radar myself for seventeen seasons. In these years of cruising the Channel, N Sea and Baltic, I reckon that radar has been critical on about four occasions, and on each occasion there was little or no wind and we were motoring, so power was not a problem. I am a great fan of AIS, but there are occasions when having a radar to tell you that there is no vessel within six miles perhaps can make the difference between satisfaction and terror.