Navigation General · AIS

Under what circumstance should a vessel's AIS transmitter be switched off or its transmission suspended?

Explanation

IMO guidelines allow the master to switch off AIS transmissions when, in professional judgment, continuous transmitting would compromise the vessel's safety or security (e.g., when transiting piracy-prone areas). Anchoring alone does not justify disabling AIS, and AIS does not have an automatic speed-based shutoff. VTS or flag-state authority may also direct suspension.

Authority: Bowditch (Pub. 9), Ch. 13

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