We have already proclaimed our love of AIS, the technology that helps watchkeepers identify surrounding vessel traffic, but currently this technology only lets us track large ships. This is about to change. Panbo reports that the USCG has asked the FCC to expedite approval of AIS-B systems for use on boats.
What is AIS-B?
The U.S. Coast Guard says;
Class B (AIS) is nearly identical to the Class A, except the Class B:
- Has a reporting rate less than a Class A (e.g. every 30 sec. when under 14 knots, as opposed to every 10 sec. for Class A)
- Does not transmit the vessel’s IMO number or call sign
- Does not transmit ETA or destination
- Does not transmit navigational status
- Is only required to receive, not transmit, text safety messages
- Is only required to receive, not transmit, application identifiers (binary messages)
- Does not transmit rate of turn information
- Does not transmit maximum present static draught
Got that?
You may have picked up on some Class B chatter over at Navagear or at Panbo questioning how effective these units will be in helping ships avoid small boats. Well Ben Ellison, electronics editor at Power & Motoryacht, Sail Magazine and Panbo.com has some questions for the ProMariner readers of gCaptain. He writes;
The bigger question is how much are they using AIS on their bridges?
Do they have good AIS target displays?
Are the displays getting too crowded as is, i.e. would there be a temptation to filter out Class B targets if they proliferate?
So with the goal of safer inland waterways for all we ask all professional mariners to answer the following poll questions then add your answers to Ben’s questions in our comments section.
Resources:
my experience is that the most dangerous ship encounters are offshore where the screens are uncluttered, but everyone’s relaxed and moving right along. I asked the gCaptain to survey his ship-running readers on this general subject andall seemed to agreethat even if they had to filter out small targets in busy places they’d pay attention to everything outside the sea buoy. It was good to hear that, but not really surprising. While there are fools driving ships just like there are fools driving
discussion. AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a radio signal that transmits navigation info about vessels in close proximity to each other, and to land based stations. Coast Guard information on the workings of AIS can be found here. CurrentlygCaptainand Panbo are featuring articles on a new (Class B) generation of AIS for recreational vessels that is on the verge of FCC approval. The new Class B AIS, while not as robust as the Class A for the big guys, has potential when used by an individual with
We have a tiny 5 line display on our 250 million $ ship. Useless for ships and useless for boats.
In busy harbors and inland waters I’d probably “filter them out” but once outside the seabuoy I’d have it on 24/7.
In busy harbors and inland waters I’d probably “filter them out” but once outside the seabuoy I’d have it on 24/7.
We have a tiny 5 line display on our 250 million $ ship. Useless for ships and useless for boats.
Thanks Richard!
Thanks Richard!
I agree. Filter the boats in busy ports and monitor everything while at sea. -Jeff
[...] better idea what commercial traffic might actually do with Class B AIS data, John Konrad has posted a quick survey over at gCaption. Again, be sure to read the [...]
I agree. Filter the boats in busy ports and monitor everything while at sea. -Jeff
[...] Earlier this week I received a request from our friend Ben Ellison at Panbo to poll our readers on the use of AIS. He was especially concerned with the upcoming release of AIS-B, vessel tracking system for boaters, and how the watch officers of large ships expected to process the increasingly large amounts of data on their radar screens. You can read that post HERE. [...]
We use AIS integrated into our radars. With too many small boats I would expect to need to filter out boats.
And another thing. A comment was made about steady bearing and decreasing range. Works fine except sometime all I can tell by looking at a bearing change is that my wheelhouse won’t hit you. I might not be able to tell if my bow will clear you, it’s over a tenth of a mile away!
We use AIS integrated into our radars. With too many small boats I would expect to need to filter out boats.
And another thing. A comment was made about steady bearing and decreasing range. Works fine except sometime all I can tell by looking at a bearing change is that my wheelhouse won’t hit you. I might not be able to tell if my bow will clear you, it’s over a tenth of a mile away!
[...] what that may mean in terms of Class B, I asked Captain John Konrad to help out. Boy, did he, first querying his gCaptain readers, then bringing in Captain Richard Rodriguez for a professional small boat point of view, and [...]