Boat Name Convention for AIS

[neelie]

Is there a convention as to how one should program the boats name into the AIS when initializing it?

i.e. just the boats name or the name together with a prefix of S.V. for a sailboat?

My new AIS also allows for boat type which, clearly I will label as a "Vessel, Sailing".

I was thinking if I included the S.V. in the name, it would make it easier for the bridge of other vessels to visually identify me... or is that simply wishful thinking?

[chuckr]

we just put in our boat name - soulmates - if you think the guys on those big boats are looking at the ais think again --

when we have called them we always get one minute let me look -

so the sv does not really help but i guess could not hurt

[twistedtree]

I'd put it in. Then other boats know you 'might' have priority because you 'might' be under sail.

[estarzinger]

The normal practice is to just put in your boat name, and not M/V or S/V. You put the type of vessel in other fields

[MarkJ]

Just put in your boat name because when friends are looking for you,they may not be able to guess the SV. Btw SV only seems to be a USA thing anyway.

I have found that, differing from chuck, all ships use and have AIS turned on at all times. barn none.

When i am sailing by myself, at night, I can fit in "solosailr". Just in case they are smart enough to work that out they might know they can run me over and I wont notice... Or they will give me more space as I may be stuck on a course and Zzzzzzzing!

[chuckr]

[QUOTE=MarkJ;1439352]I have found that, differing from chuck, all ships use and have AIS turned on at all times. barn none.

Mark -- i guess i did not make myself clear - they all have the ais on just not looking at it all the time -- when i call they say please stand by and i will check - then yes we see you and yes we will have a close pass --

so it is on just not being monitored all the time

[Zanshin]

Chuckr - it might not be actively monitored, but they have alarms set so that they will notice you when inside a certain range or if the CPA is too close. I've had a tanker change course slightly so that our CPA of under 1 mile (in 40 minutes) suddenly became 5 miles, my guess is that the officer of the watch had standing orders to wake the captain if something came too close so a slight rudder angle change was easier to do.

The "SV" doesn't really belong in the name field, since one of the Class B fields is the type of vessel. The MMSI for AIS is issued by your country authority and in that certificate is the official boat name (as they see it), that is what should be programmed in.

[neelie]

OK...Point taken.

Like so many of my good ideas, "SV" bites the dust!

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[Pelagic]

Off Somalia I might be inclined to name “Warship”

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Off Somalia I might be inclined to name “Warship”

"USS" should do...

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Btw SV only seems to be a USA thing anyway.

Here we use S/Y (for sailing yacht), but not putting it on AIS

[Neptune's Gear]

I use SV before the Vessel Name. This is because the vessel name is received before the vessel type in the data stream. Also many AIS configs display the vessel name, so it MAY be an additional safety factor. You can reprogram the name whenever you like - it's the MMSI number you cannot change...

In my experience, most ships are not watching AIS all the time, but do if an alarm is triggered. I have had many ships change course to avoid us... AIS is great!

If you are interested you can read a bit about our experiences with it here -AIS – Neptune's Gear Ltd

Cheers

[goboatingnow]

You can reprogram the name whenever you like - it's the MMSI number you cannot change...

Only in the US, mine I can update the MMSI as many times as I like.

dave

[Neptune's Gear]

Sorry Dave, NOT on most units. In the USA they have to be pre-programmed before sale or import. In other places you can change everything EXCEPT the MMSI once programmed. I've not seen one that allows MMSI change without return to the dealer. It is also my understanding that one that allows that would not comply with FCC or CE certification...

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Neptune's Gear

Sorry Dave, NOT on most units. In the USA they have to be pre-programmed before sale or import. In other places you can change everything EXCEPT the MMSI once programmed. I've not seen one that allows MMSI change without return to the dealer. It is also my understanding that one that allows that would not comply with FCC or CE certification...

You could be right , I have an early SRT version that does allow it. I remember reading that there isn't a specific legal or CE issue with reprogramming in Europe though.

Dave