New study quantifies what we already knew: 75% of fishing vessels don't use AIS

[nm55raven]

I learnt a technique from a captain on one trip we made on my ship.
He always locked on targets with radar with or without AIS targets .
When used in tandem w AIS ,
It’s virtually foolproof in tracking actual relative positions .
it proved its value in the fog low viz off Hatteras one dusk
As we averted a collision w a 55 ft sailboat .
AIS is a great tool but over reliance and without radar can be dangerous.
My advice is to train day or night marking targets and experience the correlation in real time .
It will make you a better navigator and captain.

[TPG]

No surprise here. AIS is a great tool but that's all it is; never rely 100% on it.

We came across several commercial-size vessels on a trip from Cape Town to the Bahamas that were not broadcasting AIS. We picked them up on radar or visual.