The IMO,
current stand on AIS says it is not a
collision avoidance tool.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/AIS/I...Guidelines.pdf
That might have some conflict with the col reg that says as does the USCG that you use all tool available and yes they must be on.
Dont forget that the AIS gives speed over the ground/heading and the col reg are based on speed in the
water therefore the AIS will give you the wrong vessel aspect ( are we passing or the stand on vessel?)when you are going slow in
current so ARPA and AIS will disagree, now which one will the company lawyer tell you to ignore??
I did
work for a very large vessel operator and that question was asked by several crew the office came back with the IMO doc. I guess we will have to wait till that one is tested in court?
A box in the corner is not something to be concentrating on when you have arpa and look out the window obligations,the MAIB has AIS accidents listed because of this.
The IMO made us all install AIS but they didnt make us display it on the
Radar as that is a significant cost on older radars or was it because it isnt a
collision avoidance tool?
http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=754
Re
radar reflectors, plenty of times i have been on watch in areas with yachts, I can see whatever radar reflector they have up the
mast yet cannot see them on radar.
I notice this in
Singapore I can see the bum boats as the larger
engine is the reflector no doubt and yachts generally nothing...
Just an observation not a radar reflector test
PS yes I have also seen the
VHF work longer range than line of site, not sure how to explain that