A friend has a 55 foot power boat on which he installed an AIS
transceiver. Obviously, he didn't purchase it in the US.
To start with, he had it improperly programmed. It wasn't broadcasting
what he was. (Pleasure boat)
The Coast Guard was warning him (vhf) that he was out of the shipping
lanes, he was crossing the lanes illegally, he was about to go aground,
yada yada because they thought he was a big cargo ship. They were less
than happy when he told them what he was.
He has rectified that problem.
He reports now that he is refining his routes too much now do to
having too much info. Where, he used to just cross the straits using his
eyes and radar as we all do, he is now taking into account all the added
stuff that comes from AIS. The result is that he is beginning to ignore
the AIS data.
Now, if the above examples are valid, what would happen if there was
several hundred small craft putting out AIS sigs?
Would the big guys pay any attention? Would the Coasties pay
attention? Would anybody pay attention? Would everyone just program the
pleasure boats out of their system?
Maybe the US should limit pleasure boat usage to offshore only, which
is really where it is now.
Gordon