nimbusgb wrote:
Following a thread on uk.rec.boats about pirates ......

All vessels over 200 tonne are supposed to carry AIS transmitters.
Does anyone know what the regulations are if you *want* to carry AIS
being under 200 tonnes? How does anyone police the use of the system.
It appears to me that there is no registration id of the transmitting
equipment and anyway that could be falsified.

Has anyone considered what would happen if someone was to start
transmitting false 'echoes'. The original idea was to masquerade as a
naval ship if threatened by pirates. It might at least make them think
twice if they thought there was a chance that someone with bigger guns
than them was nearby.

Ian

You are all working on the assumption that pirates use radar, AIS, GPS to
track their victims. Most of them just cruise around aimlessly looking for a
likely target. It's difficult to disguise a 35-foot cruising yacht as a navy
frigate.

If your boat is big enough, and your pocket will stretch to it, try an
Apache attack helicopter, fully armed and ready to go. And don't forget to
dispense the chaff......................