Changes in Indonesia - CAIT is dead.

[svhoneybee]

We attended a seminar put on by Indonesian Tourism at Langkawi on Sunday. They are introducing big changes to improve access for yachts (& other tourists). No more CAIT, no Temporary Import Permit and most countries get easier visas. They want boats to have AIS (I suspect most SE Asian countries misunderstand Class B AIS), but will be flexible.

[haiqu]

I read about this briefly last week but couldn't find any further details. Apart from their draconian application of AIS for surveillance purposes -- a feature not unique to Indonesia, but fairly rare -- it appears they have finally come up into into the 1960s wrt. just about every other country on the planet. Good news anyhow.

[delatbabel]

The thing with AIS is that it's now mandated in Singapore and looks like Malaysia will be mandating it for some ports next year (at least Port Klang and Johor). So although you could enter Indonesia without an AIS on board, if you're planning on leaving on a northwards passage you will need one. It doesn't surprise me that Indonesia is adding it as a requirement.

Good to see the CAIT go bye-byes. It's a complete PITA.

[svhoneybee]

In the last few weeks, Thailand has started to enforce their requirement to have AIS on foreign boats. 4 months ago we sailed into Yacht Haven, hired a car and drove to Ao Chalong to clear in. This is no longer possible - you must now go direct to the One Stop clearance facility at Ao Chalong and they want to be able to see your AIS signal as you clear in. Of course, given the limited range of Class B AIS, it will be of marginal use for tracking boats from shore facilities.

[delatbabel]

If you go to marinetraffic.com and zoom in on the Singapore Straits (just south of Singapore) then you will quickly understand why AIS is mandated in this area.

Or you can just stand on the coast near ECP and look out. It's like a chessboard out there.

[haiqu]

I thought the Thai rule only applied to Phuket Harbour. Looks like we'll all need a Class B AIS soon ...

[svhoneybee]

It appears that if you are under way in Thai waters, you need your AIS on.

By the way, there is a lot of skepticism around the waterfront about the Indonesian changes, so check it out thoroughly yourself with the Indonesians before fronting up without a CAIT.

[haiqu]

I can see it taking a while to filter through to the rank and file officials in Indonesia. Still, it's a great improvement and I certainly hope it sticks. This is one place I'm likely to go.

[maxingout]

Sounds like AIS is in the cards for Exit Only. The sailing world is getting more complicated each year.

[svhoneybee]

We checked into Ao Chalong a couple of days ago. The harbour master checked that our AIS was visible before clearing us in. There is a sign on the door saying No AIS, no clearance.

[Auzzee]

Honey Bee, is receive only compliant or must it be both broadcast and receive?

[delatbabel]

Originally Posted by Auzzee

Honey Bee, is receive only compliant or must it be both broadcast and receive?

> The harbour master checked that our AIS was visible before clearing us in

... implies that you must be able to broadcast or the harbour master won't be able to see you on his AIS display.

[svhoneybee]

Del is correct. You must be transmitting an AIS signal. We were asked for our MMSI when we checked in.

[Cap'n Nico]

I can completely understand why AIS is required. Indonesia has tugs towing huge barges with no lights but with AIS. On a recent delivery down the Malacca Strait or AIS had 150 targets but only because of the maximum number of targets it can handle. I suspect there were many more.

The CAIT may 'be dead' but I'm still hearing stories that many of the requirements of the CAIT are still needed.