T&T: AIS, Gotcha-Monitoring VHF 16-13

[L H]

Dave,

I think I now see the problem.
Mike said
 "If you are below 20 meters in length you are not required to participate
or even monitor the VTS. However, the VTS and other commercial operators
are used to AIS equipped vessels participating."

To 'actually' participate in the VTS, a vessel has to call in to traffic and
report departure, destination, course, and so on.  Mike was not
participating in VTS but was transmitting an AIS signal, so the tug
'assumed' he was participating in VTS and would be monitoring 13.

This will become more of a problem when and if the class B AIS is approved
and many small pleasure boats are transmitting an AIS signal.  However the
commercial operators perceived the situation, the fact that Mike's boat was
not actually participating in VTS meant he was required to monitor VHF 16.
Monitoring VHF 13 is a good idea, but was not required by regulation.

Kevin, Dave,
Your point about having two VHF radios at the helm is well stated.

Larry H

----- Original Message ----- 
Subject: T&T: AIS, Gotcha-Monitoring VHF 16


> Larry,
>
> The problem is that by carrying AIS, the vessel that Mike was on
> (as he noted) indicated to the world that he IS participating
> (and no - it is not a regulation- but it is the real world- not
> academia).  Therefore, he would not be expected to be on 16. If
> someone shows AIS and I can't raise him on 13 or the local VTS
> frequency, then there is an issue.  BTW, most AIS systems have
> the ability to turn off the transmitter - so if he wanted to not
> participate and just watch, that could have been done as well.
> Having one foot in both worlds is just not appropriate.