[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by masraum

You would sure think, wouldn't you.
I think the North Sea can be very rough. Maybe that contributes to poor visibility.


I can only assume that company A tracks its ships, and company B tracks its ships, but maybe there's no central agency that tracks all ships (no ATC analog for the ocean).

I wonder what sort of radar these ships have if any.

In Canada, there is a ‘central agency’ that tracks ships near our ports. For instance there is Vancouver Traffic and also Tofino Traffic. I think on channel 73 iirc. I’m sure the UK has something very similar.

When I was shrimp trawling in Trevor Channel on the west coast of Vancouver Island, I had several interactions with Tofino traffic if a lumber ship was going to be a problem for me (we had right of way as commercial fishermen with limited steering). I had to get ships to alter course at least once a week and unless I called Tofino traffic, they generally ignored me. Usually Tofino traffic would advise the pilots that small commercial fishing vessels were active in the area and to remain well clear.

Also this https://westcoastnow.ca/bc-ship-traffic-tracker/