Just to be sure we are debating based on correct facts.... Class B transmits at 30 sec intervals when your boat is moving. If your boat is running at 2 kts or less then the report interval is 3 minutes. I don't believe there is any situation where it will be 10 minutes.
Class A transmits at between 2 and 10 second intervals depending on the boat's speed and rate of turn.
So there is a difference, but it's not that huge.
after a winters cruising with the same radio....as I posted earlier...,many a day has gone by with either not one signal or the few commercial vessels were snug in their slips. Plenty of traffic though...had it been foggy though, it may have added some comfort...but in broad daylight and clear vis, all the ICW hogs managed near misses and forced me out of the channel anyway.In our area (Campbell River, Desolation Sound, The Broughtons, etc.) I've never felt the need for AIS as we tend to move on the water only when there is reasonable visibility. E.g., I would never knowingly go out in fog, although can deal with it if caught in it.
As it happens we are adding a second VHF to Blue Sky so have pretty much decided on a Standard Horizon GX2200 which comes with AIS. I'm looking forward to seeing the AIS transmitting vessels on the water and all of the info they provide.
Yes, we will be receiving only, but has been mentioned it will be nice to keep track of the big boys especially the ferry traffic, which can sometimes appear seemingly out of nowhere. Or suddenly pull out of their berth just as you are passing by.
Because the AIS in this form comes essentially free, I view it as an interesting addition rather than a necessary one.
after a winters cruising with the same radio....as I posted earlier...,many a day has gone by with either not one signal or the few commercial vessels were snug in their slips. Plenty of traffic though...had it been foggy though, it may have added some comfort...but in broad daylight and clear vis, all the ICW hogs managed near misses and forced me out of the channel anyway.
In many places the dangerous and unpredictable traffic doesn't transmit anyhow. In my world ferries announce leaving their berth and transmit safety info when turning into canals or departing breakwaters. With predictable speeds...even in fog ferries aren't a surprise for me. It's the big boys in the channel the use AIS...and it's easy to stay out of the channel.
My biggest worry is the guy in the 26 foot tug, pushing a 100 foot barge. He is not required to have a captains license, the tug might be a total shambles and a handful to operate, he might not be able to see around the crane on deck, no watch on the barge a d operating the same tight areas I may be running. Definitely no AIS onboard either.
So while I enjoy the AIS in my radio, after 2000 miles of busy waterways, it has proven itself to just where I thought it would.....till it is required for virtually everyone....the old methods of avoiding traffic are satisfactory u less you specifically travel in lanes by traffic that is required to have it and in lower than optimal visability.
True, AIS doesn't help track boats that do not have it installed. And the 25 kts charter boat would probably be Class B if she did have it - the only useful info might be the names / MMSI for hailing.We had a situation last summer in pea soup fog in Browning Passage where a small tug and tow wasn't broadcasting AIS. We would have given him more room if we had known he had a tow. However, a bigger problem was the sport fishing charter boat traveling at 25 kts that we watched on radar wondering what-in-the-hell to do. We throttled right back and watched,as he shot straight across our bow. While he didn't have AIS, the bigger problem was he was travelling far too fast for the low visibility situation and probably wasn't paying attention to his radar.
British Columbia Ferries
Ah. Did you mean to imply they had something to do with the Empress of the North incident?
-Chris
...Really, AIS doesn't help with most traffic you encounter. But it helps with the larger, commercial, and essentially more predictable vessels - taking them off of your list of things to worry about.
This came up on another forum.
U.S. Coast Guard begins testing synthetic aids, virtual buoys - Professional Mariner - August 2014
Perhaps a reason for Marin to install AIS
Also, a couple of months ago someone here also complained that some boats leave their AIS's on when tied up at marinas. Really? That's a problem somehow? Seems like complaining just to complain.
If you have your AIS setup to include an automatic proximity warning, you get to cruise in and out of your marina constantly punching off AIS warnings. My marina alone has 5 or 6 boats that never leave the dock, but broadcast their AIS location 24 hours a day.