Naval Ships and AIS

[trapezeartist]

Do naval ships have an exemption from transmitting AIS if over 300 tonnes (or whatever the threshold is)?

I ask because US Navy Ship Zeus came up the Bristol Channel the other day. I looked on Marine Traffic to get a bit more information and she was nowhere to be seen. I have a feeling I noticed this with some of our own when I was down around Plymouth. I can understand a navel vessel not wanting to reveal her whereabouts in the event of a real shooting war, but if she's just burbling around burning up taxpayers diesel, she's just the same collision hazard as anything else.

 

[RAI]

I don't think military vessels are subject to IMO regulations (apart from those specifically for them).

 

[Woodlouse]

Never seen a navy vessel on AIS. RFA, yes, navy, no.

 

[westhinder]

They appear to switch AIS off when on a serious mission.
Belgian Navy ships do normally transmit, but I have noticed that the last known location for the Leopold I, a Belgian frigate, is Toulon. She sailed from there last week as an escort ship to the French aircraft carrier De Gaulle, an is now 'out of range'. De Gaulle's airplanes are currently striking IS targets in Syria.

 

[l'escargot]

They often seem to appear just as "Coalition Warship" around here.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Similarly I've seen "French Warship" or "Nato Warship" being transmitted. But not always. Often something gray is not AIS'ing.

 

[Koeketiene]

I don't think military vessels are not subject to IMO regulations (apart from those specifically for them).

That is correct :encouragement:

They appear to switch AIS off when on a serious mission.
Belgian Navy ships do normally transmit, but I have noticed that the last known location for the Leopold I, a Belgian frigate, is Toulon. She sailed from there last week as an escort ship to the French aircraft carrier De Gaulle, an is now 'out of range'. De Gaulle's airplanes are currently striking IS targets in Syria.

Belgian navy vessels routinely transmit AIS when on transit in congested waters but NOT when on operations.
The Ready Duty Ships does also NOT shine AIS when on fishery protection duties in territorial waters (for obvious reasons )

 

[[70521]]

she's just the same collision hazard as anything else.

Don't panic they know you are there.

 

[dunedin]

Not seen any nuclear subs broadcasting on AIS yet in the Clyde

 

[johnalison]

Are ships obliged to transmit? I thought that they only had to have the equipment installed. In the Baltic, law enforcement craft normally transmit, which is handy if you are not displaying a motoring cone.

 

[derekgillard]

Watched a family member return on a Royal navy ship last week after 8 months at sea, when she arrived in the Solent AIS was switched on showing here at anchor the night before she arrived in Pompy.
I suspect they switch it on in local waters as we have never been able to see her when off at sea.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

I'd share waters with the Andrew anytime, they keep a pretty good lookout, especially now that even a small RIB might be a fascist suicide bomber.

 

[scottie]

Not seen any nuclear subs broadcasting on AIS yet in the Clyde

True but but you can't miss them or their minders as they take up half the firth

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I'm pretty certain from what I've seen in the Clyde that Nato warships can transmit misleading AIS info.

 

[DannyB]

I'm pretty certain from what I've seen in the Clyde that Nato warships can transmit misleading AIS info.

Some of them ignore the collision regs as well.

 

[gasdave]

I've seen foreign navies transmitting in Clyde but not picked up anything from UK fleet. Usually just described as "warship"

 

[dunedin]

I've seen foreign navies transmitting in Clyde but not picked up anything from UK fleet. Usually just described as "warship"

Yes, but when showing as "warship" they are giving position, course etc - just the name that is suppressed.
At other times they are not transmitting at all - but fair enough, and as others have said, I expect they are generally keeping fairly good lookout, even if primarily from below decks

 

[Birdseye]

Do naval ships have an exemption from transmitting AIS if over 300 tonnes (or whatever the threshold is)?

I ask because US Navy Ship Zeus came up the Bristol Channel the other day. I looked on Marine Traffic to get a bit more information and she was nowhere to be seen. I have a feeling I noticed this with some of our own when I was down around Plymouth. I can understand a navel vessel not wanting to reveal her whereabouts in the event of a real shooting war, but if she's just burbling around burning up taxpayers diesel, she's just the same collision hazard as anything else.

Naval ships dont have to have to turn on AIS - in fact lots of other ships can turn it off too. And following the USS Cole you can expect the yanks to be jumpy.

 

[trapezeartist]

Naval ships dont have to have to turn on AIS - in fact lots of other ships can turn it off too. And following the USS Cole you can expect the yanks to be jumpy.

USS Cole was attacked in Aden. I humbly submit that Avonmouth is not quite the same risk level. And as Cole was in harbour, no-one would have needed AIS in order to find her.

 

[Koeketiene]

Naval ships dont have to have to turn on AIS - in fact lots of other ships can turn it off too. And following the USS Cole you can expect the yanks to be jumpy.

USS Cole was attacked in Aden. I humbly submit that Avonmouth is not quite the same risk level. And as Cole was in harbour, no-one would have needed AIS in order to find her.

1. USS Cole was attacked in Aden in 2000
2. The 2002 IMO SOLAS Agreement included a mandate that required most vessels over 300GT on international voyages to fit a Class A type AIS transceiver. This was the first mandate for the use of AIS equipment and affected approximately 100,000 vessels.