RYA survey on AIS usage or non-usage
by Louise Nicholls, RYA 17 Sep 2014 20:58 BST
17 September 2014
RYA Cruising Atlas © RYA
The RYA is working to improve its understanding of the number and spread of leisure boaters either using or not using AIS on board their vessels, in order to quality assure our data as we update the RYA's Coastal Atlas of Recreational Boating.
To do this we need your help – by completing a short online survey about your AIS usage or non-usage at www.rya.org.uk/go/AIS.
Alana Ward, RYA Planning and Environmental Officer "Over 1500 people have completed the survey to date but we are keen to hear from more of you, particularly if you are living in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland or if you are motorboating or powerboating anywhere on the UK coast.
"The RYA Coastal Atlas provides us with a powerful tool to help protect the areas that are most important to leisure boaters against a backdrop of competing commercial and environmental interest around the UK coast.
"Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into our prize draw to win a Garmin VIRB Elite Action Camera worth £349.99".
The RYA Coastal Atlas was first compiled 10 years ago and is updated on a regular basis. It has been used by government, local authorities and the Maritime Coast Guard Agency to help improve and safeguard navigation at sea for leisure boaters.
The inclusion of AIS Class B data in the next updated version of the Atlas will strengthen the existing dataset however, the RYA is aware that many leisure craft do not use AIS equipment and if they do, they may not be used for short journeys or those which are close to inshore.
"It is really important that we have a strong understanding of the number and spread of boaters using AIS which you can help us achieve by completing this short survey at www.rya.org.uk/go/AIS" concludes Alana.
The RYA AIS survey and prize draw closes on 30 September 2014.
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