"John Proctor" wrote in message
news:2006032608152075249-lost@nowhereorg...
On 2006-03-26 02:14:00 +1100, "Steve Lusardi"
said:

AIS.Wonderful idea! Perhaps all the responders of this thread should
think a little more about where this is really going. AIS is being
seriously abused by Internet broadcast and other unintended recording of
AIS traffic, as well as environmentalists and governments (the real
pirates). The net result is everyone will have one because of regulations
and no one will turn them on because of the loss of security, risk of
fines, unecessary taxation or other abuses soon to appear. Damn shame.
Steve

"Pascal" wrote in message
oups.com...

This is posted on the IMO page: what are the concerns ans implications?
I have seen many people broadcasting the ships positions on the webb.

Maritime security - AIS ship data

At its79th session in December 2004, the Maritime Safety Committee
(MSC) agreed that, in relation to the issue of freely available
automatic information system (AIS)-generated ship data on the
world-wide web, the publication on the world-wide web or elsewhere of
AIS data transmitted by ships could be detrimental to the safety and
security of ships and port facilities and was undermining the efforts
of the Organization and its Member States to enhance the safety of
navigation and security in the international maritime transport sector.


The Committee condemned the regrettable publication on the world-wide
web, or elsewhere, of AIS data transmitted by ships and urged Member
Governments, subject to the provisions of their national laws, to
discourage those who make available AIS data to others for publication
on the world-wide web, or elsewhere from doing so.

In addition, the Committee condemned those who irresponsibly publish
AIS data transmitted by ships on the world-wide web, or elsewhere,
particularly if they offer services to the shipping and port
industries.

AIS is really only just the beginning. What is to prevent bouyage from
being AIS literate come to think of it we don't need a physical bouy
anymore just an AIS signal with the GPS coordinates of where the bouy
should be.

Now that we have GPS, why are buoys needed anymore? Aren't you really
interested in where the channel is located and not the location of some buoy
that also happens to be trying to show you where the channel is located?
When did buoys become a destinatiion in and of themselves instead of merely
a source of nautical information guiding us around underwater obstructions?

Also could be used for isolated danger marks etc. As these things don't
move the beaconing time would be fairly long. Thus AIS could start to form
the basis of a virtual navaids system. Add a chart background and voila
you have an instanly updated marine chart

This is a great idea and the virtual danger mark would only need be
maintained with AIS until the charts get updated and then each ship will
know where the danger is located just from their GPS map data.