AIS Requirement in Europe?

[Dockhead]

I just read this on Noonsite:

"The second tenet is the requirement envisaged for all vessels over 15 metres to carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS). This piece of legislation is aimed at fishing boats, not at leisure yachts, but the sailing boats will be caught as well. More and more leisure yachts are carrying this worthy piece of electronic gear anyway, but get ready for it to be mandatory. "

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/val/R2009-03-20-1


Are you guys aware of this? Does it apply in the UK too? Is it being enforced? News to me . . .

[Dockhead]

No clue?

[GordMay]

The Erika III Package on maritime safety regulations “envisions” a system of automatic identification being extended to fishing vessels over 15 meters in order to reduce the risk of collisions at sea.

Excerpted from
“Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2002/59/EC establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system”

At ➥ http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/...EN&language=EN

6. The automatic ship identification systems (AIS – Automatic Identification System) referred to in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974 make it possible not only to improve the possibilities of monitoring these ships but above all to make them safer in close navigation situations. AIS have accordingly been integrated into the enacting terms of Directive 2002/59/EC. Considering the large number of collisions involving fishing vessels that have clearly not been seen by merchant ships or which have not seen the merchant ships around them, extension of that measure to include fishing
vessels with a length of more than 15 metres is very much to be desired. In the framework of the European Fisheries Fund, financial assistance may be provided for the fitting on board of fishing vessels of safety equipment such as AIS. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has recognised that the publication for commercial purposes on the internet or elsewhere of AIS data transmitted by ships could be detrimental to the safety and security of ships and port facilities and has urged its member governments, subject to the provisions of their national laws, to discourage those who make AIS data available to others for publication on the internet or elsewhere from doing so. In addition, the confidentiality of information sent to Member States pursuant to this Directive should be ensured, and the Member States should use that information in compliance with this Directive.

[Dockhead]

OK, so it's only fishing vessels? I wouldn't mind, actually, if all vessels over 15 meters were required to have it. I was only worried about getting blindsided by this (and maybe arrested by the French), because I do not currently have it (plan to install it as soon as practical).