jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,782
MMSI FCC or What!
- Thread starter StargazerP303
- Start date
I totally understand your point and that of fishing fleets not willingly giving up their positions. However, I doubt bird dogging someone's position would be that hard. What would be helpful is to identify a fishing vessel further away from visual ID or fog so as to give them plenty of sea room. I don't ever recall seeing a fishing boat at night displaying a red topmost light. Maybe that's just not common in Mexico or perhaps it's sort of redundant with all the deck lights ablaze.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,782
"How would the fishing vessel having AIS improve your ability to steer well clear? "
Capta,
In my experience the fishing vessel was doing 25 plus knots in 35-50 yard fog visibility. At his speed and angular shape his radar reflection was not clear. The boats using AIS both commercial and pleasure that I monitored were evident at over 2 miles and easily managed.
What I saw was. 4 bright LED headlights aimed at my Starboard beam. (The starboard round light was damaged when he hit my boat.
I avoided getting killed but would have liked to avoid the whole incident. AIS would have helped.
Capta,
In my experience the fishing vessel was doing 25 plus knots in 35-50 yard fog visibility. At his speed and angular shape his radar reflection was not clear. The boats using AIS both commercial and pleasure that I monitored were evident at over 2 miles and easily managed.
What I saw was. 4 bright LED headlights aimed at my Starboard beam. (The starboard round light was damaged when he hit my boat.
I avoided getting killed but would have liked to avoid the whole incident. AIS would have helped.
Yes, I find it very annoying-around here there are a lot of fishing boats that could use AIS enroute to their fishing grounds, or in fog - all transponders have a silent mode you could turn on to hide your location (presumably to hide from pirates). We frequently talk to large ships, and yachts in the confined areas downeast - once you see a ship's name on the AIS and hail them by name, they always answer - whereas in the old days we'd see a large ship on radar and hail them to discuss crossing they'd ignore you - now they seek us out to let us know they see us and don't want us to cross their bow - or they've got a barge in tow, please keep clear astern... We've talked to large yachts in the very circuitous mussel ridge channel to pick a spot to pass, agree on sharing the channel, etc. You don't need AIS, but it sure is helpful.
I've had a restricted radiotelephone operators license since I was a kid - Dave is right - read English, keep a log, and the check has to clear.
The CG certainly responds to a DSC distress call - but they may not be able to raise the caller on voice. I wasn't saying that the marina would be asked to handle the emergency - -the CG, like the EPIRB alert centers, can call the contact info to verify that it's not a false alarm. The MMSI data includes a description of your vessel - it helps to know what you're looking for before you dispatch a search party! When we forward a mayday call or get asked to assist, the first question is nature of emergency, the second is describe your vessel (followed by souls aboard and lifejackets). MMSI puts that right on the screen of the new CG radio systems - and I can't believe Rockland hasn't been upgraded - the entire east coast was done several years ago.
I've had a restricted radiotelephone operators license since I was a kid - Dave is right - read English, keep a log, and the check has to clear.
The CG certainly responds to a DSC distress call - but they may not be able to raise the caller on voice. I wasn't saying that the marina would be asked to handle the emergency - -the CG, like the EPIRB alert centers, can call the contact info to verify that it's not a false alarm. The MMSI data includes a description of your vessel - it helps to know what you're looking for before you dispatch a search party! When we forward a mayday call or get asked to assist, the first question is nature of emergency, the second is describe your vessel (followed by souls aboard and lifejackets). MMSI puts that right on the screen of the new CG radio systems - and I can't believe Rockland hasn't been upgraded - the entire east coast was done several years ago.
There we go another, money garbing state law's first of all the state should require all fishing boats that operate in unsafe conditions should be required to carry the equipment to operate. The state should of requested all commercial vessels to carry radar, AIS transponder and an auto-horn during a visibility less then 2miles or 2NM. So many times out of the blue a lobster boat appears out of nowhere in the foggy days of Maine. However, Try to get the state to listen is another topic...lol
I also have amateur extra, and commercial telegraph with all indorcments. I checked with both CG and FCC several years ago their reply was that I needed the restricted radio telephone license also.