Page 70: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1999)

Electronics Update ber, Mr. O'Neil seemingly ruffled some industry feathers with the proposal of a system of mandatory traffic control compliance by ship masters with orders from shore traffic controllers. The sug-gestion understandably launched a col-orful debate at a conference on naviga-tional safety in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. "Under existing regulations, the VTIS (Vessel Traffic Information Systems) has the right to contact the ship con-cerned and warn of the danger ahead. But the shore authorities have no author-ity to compel a change of course," Mr. O'Neil reportedly said. "We should ask ourselves if the time has not come to question this approach and to empower the shore authorities, in certain cases, to order ships to take whatever action is necessary to avoid an accident." TURBOUSA, INC. TURBOCHARGER SERVICE, REPAIR AND PARTS SUPPLY Member of the TiirboNed International Network 3005 S.W. 2nd Ave., Ste. 105 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315 Ph.: 954-767-8631 Fax: 954-767-8632 Toll Free: 877-TURBOUS c Circle 374 on Reader Service Card ShipConstructor Product Modeling System for PCs ShipCAM CAD-Link ShipReport NC'Pyros ARL - Albacore Research Ltd. 4196 Kashtan Place, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8X 4L7 Tel: (250) 479-3638 Toll Free: 1-888-210-7420 Fax: (250) 479-0868 E-mail: [email protected] See us at The Workboat Show Booth #2056 ?Autodesk. www.albacoreresearch.com Registered Application Developer November, 1999 Circle 214 on Reader Service Card ARL ilhucore Reseurch I.111. In discussing the program, he com-pared the proposed system to that of the relationship between airline pilot and air traffic controller. "There is no doubt that positive traffic control is essential in civil aviation. The principle of control has been accepted in all other modes of transport and there is no reason for not extending it to shipping, when safety would be enhanced." While the suggestion is obviously a far way from serious debate, let alone implementation, the weight of having Mr. O'Neil broach the topic at a major industry event is not lost. The com-ments prompted a debate on liability if the captain followed orders from shore. Participants also discussed requiring ships to be fitted with a transponder, or electronic automatic identification sys-tem with satellite communication ability that transmits the ship's name, position, speed and course. Interestingly, it was at an international meeting just two weeks prior that shipowners maintained they were sys-tematically being choked by legislation. Shipowners said the maritime industry is being choked by legislation and that they are unfairly targeted as the culprits for all ills in the sector. Comments came from a group of shipowners who were addressing approximately 1,000 dele-gates from 35 countries who attended the bi-annual Maritime Cyprus Confer-ence in the port town of Limassol. Need Full Do ^"^capabilitV? Sfl*** SCHE0V3V.tV Expe"enced Sh.'P Ruction tory^ m ? 24 HOUR SERVICE ? 2800 TON DD CAPACITY ? PAINTING / SANDBLASTING ? LEAD PAINT REMOVAL ? GAS FREEING ? STRUCTURAL STEEL ? PIPE FIWNG ? ELECTRICAL ? MACHINE SHOP ? PROP SHOP ? LIFEBOAT REPAIR BAi msHir & YACHT CO.: 2900 MAIN STREET ? ALAMEDA, CA 94501 BILL ELLIOTT, GENERAL MGR. ? MIKE ANDERSON, MARKETING MGR. PLEASE CALL FOR QUOTES AND SCHEDULE: 510/337-9122 Fax: 510/337-0154 Circle 367 on Reader Service Card 72