Can AIS Be Used To Track All Vessels So Equipped?

[Robin3]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

I would think governments would be more worried about people with AIS who dont use it.. What are they hiding? would be my question.

We have a transmit 'off' switch on our AIS transceiver for use in those areas where piracy or hijacking by drug runners is common. Why would we want to tell those with evil intent who/what we are together with oure xact position, course and speed. That is not intentionally hiding from government agencies who are always welcomed on board if they have legitimate reason to request so. Some people it seems confuse commonsense self protection with guilty intent. I'm sure the bandits do not transmit on AIS as a routine or do they?