Solent based: Do you have AIS?

[Ningaloo]

Although the question Is about the Solent it should be remembered that in some busy commercial areas of the world Rx and Tx is mandatory so presumably the commercial vessels (or port authorities) value seeing smaller vessels on their plotters.
I agree that shape and colour coding targets would help and have taken this up with Navico/B&G on several occasions. Their response has always been that to meet the certification requirements they can only show a single standard triangular symbol. I know that Raymarine use different shapes so don't fully understand this argument. Last software update for B&G MFDs does introduce very limited colours, but (I think) only to highlight dangerous vessels.
Personally I do transmit as I like friends and family to see my progress.

 

[Habebty]

An interesting use of the AIS facility...

 

[Stemar]

I pootle around the Solent in daytime and good weather, so I don't see the need. However, ISYM that if anyone's relying on AIS in the Solent, they're a MAIB report waiting to happen.

What does get me when I look at Marine Radar or similar is the number of AIS transmitters on parked yachts that don't seem to have an off switch.

 

[johnalison]

I pootle around the Solent in daytime and good weather, so I don't see the need. However, ISYM that if anyone's relying on AIS in the Solent, they're a MAIB report waiting to happen.

What does get me when I look at Marine Radar or similar is the number of AIS transmitters on parked yachts that don't seem to have an off switch.

Mine has an off switch which is separate from the other stuff. It is wired to the battery for some reason and will transmit if I forget to turn it off, even if I switch off the batteries. I have occasionally done this, I’m afraid to say, but far from the Solent.

 

[Stemar]

I'm happy to admit I know little about AIS, but why would it not be wired in so it goes off when you turn off the chartplotter and similar? There seems to be a lot of boats done like that.

 

[prv]

Is it the ais or plotter that decides what symbol to display?

The plotter. The AIS receiver just passes on the data from the signal it received, it’s up to the plotter whether and how to draw it on the chart.

Pete

 

[prv]

I agree that shape and colour coding targets would help and have taken this up with Navico/B&G on several occasions. Their response has always been that to meet the certification requirements they can only show a single standard triangular symbol. I know that Raymarine use different shapes so don't fully understand this argument.

There are rules on how certified ship ECDIS systems display data, but as far as I know none that are mandatory for leisure plotters. Presumably Raymarine are making a benefit of that flexibility whereas Navico are choosing to follow the standard even though they’re not required to. Perhaps with an eye to the same kit being used in more regulated environments (fishing boats and workboats, perhaps? I’m not sure what the rules are). But it would not be beyond the wit of man to have both - my Axiom plotter has the option to reduce everything to triangles, all they’d need to do is have a “regulated” version where that switch (and probably a number of others) is locked in the appropriate position.

Pete

 

[johnalison]

I'm happy to admit I know little about AIS, but why would it not be wired in so it goes off when you turn off the chartplotter and similar? There seems to be a lot of boats done like that.

You'll have to ask George, who fitted it for me. ?

 

[Juan Twothree]

We recently had a relief Atlantic 85 lifeboat delivered to us on a trailer. I didn't need to check the ETA with the driver, as someone had accidentally left the AIS on.
Using Marinetraffic, I tracked it up the A31 from Poole, along the M3........

 

[lustyd]

I love these threads where people get annoyed for no reason at all I have AIS and it's transmitting any time the VHF is switched on. There's no downside as far as I can tell, and now I even have the bonus that people are getting worked up because there's a dot on a screen

 

[johnalison]

I love these threads where people get annoyed for no reason at all I have AIS and it's transmitting any time the VHF is switched on. There's no downside as far as I can tell, and now I even have the bonus that people are getting worked up because there's a dot on a screen

In the first year I had AIS we arrived at Cherbourg, where I went to the office to pay. On hearing me recite my boat's name, the Englishman behind me protested "Oh, it was you, was it, that kept setting off my alarm all the way across?", which gave me even more pleasure, though he was only being light-hearted.

 

[lustyd]

haha I hope you offered to teach him how to use his equipment so he could use it properly the next time!

 

[Blue Sunray]

A small but significant number of the 'always on' AIS stations around the Solent are charter vessels. I can quite understand why their owners want the AIS set up in this way.

 

[Robin]

We too have tx/rx but can choose to switch off or not switch it on as it is a watchmate stand alone unit with display incorporated at the lower helm. We cannot turn off transmit without also turning off rx. In open waters it is on and being connected into the on board 'network' displays on the MFD on the flybridge along with the radar, locally I mostly don't bother to switch on and just rely on mk1 eyeballs and radar . The watchmate also displays via an app on our android notebook and phones. I'm a big fan of radar but the AIS adds another dimension along with the MARPA for collision avoidance. We installed a Garmin AIS transceiver on our boat when we lived in the USA but always had the option to switch off the transmit if we wished

 

[lustyd]

I just can't imagine why you'd turn off a safety device. Ouzo was in local waters when hit by a ferry that would certainly have AIS fitted today.

 

[Robin]

I just can't imagine why you'd turn off a safety device. Ouzo was in local waters when hit by a ferry that would certainly have AIS fitted today.

IIRC Ouzo was not in the Solent but off eastern Wight at night and our set would be on then. However having AIS on the ferry does not necessarily mean targets are displayed on a plotter, just listed if interrogated. AFAIK ships rely primarily on their radar exactly as do we especially in conditions other than crystal clear calm.

 

[RichardS]

IIRC Ouzo was not in the Solent but off eastern Wight at night and our set would be on then. However having AIS on the ferry does not necessarily mean targets are displayed on a plotter, just listed if interrogated. AFAIK ships rely primarily on their radar exactly as do we especially in conditions other than crystal clear calm.

I don't understand. The ferry would have had AIS ( it wasn't that long ago surely?} but Ouzo obviously did not. If Ouzo had had a an AIS transmitter then it would have been displayed on the ferry screen and probably set off an alarm. I cannot imagine that Ouzo would not have been seen on screen by the ferry unless everyone on the bridge was fast asleep and I don't recall that being the case.

Richard

 

[Robin]

I don't understand. The ferry would have had AIS ( it wasn't that long ago surely?} but Ouzo obviously did not. If Ouzo had had a an AIS transmitter then it would have been displayed on the ferry screen and probably set off an alarm. I cannot imagine that Ouzo would not have been seen on screen by the ferry unless everyone on the bridge was fast asleep and I don't recall that being the case.

Richard

IIRC Ships above 400 tons were required to have AIS but only the newest of them had it on the plotter screen displays other than as a list in a drop down menu of vessels. I Believe the situation now is different. Somebody may know better and advise. My response related to our case that for sure when outside of Solent we would have OURS turned on, radar too.

 

[Never Grumble]

I don't understand. The ferry would have had AIS ( it wasn't that long ago surely?} but Ouzo obviously did not. If Ouzo had had a an AIS transmitter then it would have been displayed on the ferry screen and probably set off an alarm. I cannot imagine that Ouzo would not have been seen on screen by the ferry unless everyone on the bridge was fast asleep and I don't recall that being the case.

Richard

From the report
AIS is being carried by an increasing number of yachts, partly to assist in their being more “visible”. Had Ouzo carried AIS it would have made no difference to the outcome as AIS information was not displayed on the radar of Pride of Bilbao. This situation should improve as AIS is being integrated into more ships’ systems in the future

 

[Robin]

From the report
AIS is being carried by an increasing number of yachts, partly to assist in their being more “visible”. Had Ouzo carried AIS it would have made no difference to the outcome as AIS information was not displayed on the radar of Pride of Bilbao. This situation should improve as AIS is being integrated into more ships’ systems in the future

As I thought.... so I was not dreaming.