Navigation Back Up: Ensuring Mariners Don't Lose Their Way

摘要

In the digital age we sometimes find ourselves lost in technology. Cell phones now have GPS, creating an entire generation that is unable to read a map. Navigators, too, are starting to find themselves caught in the same trap, with an over-reliance on ECDIS. Although the rules are now leaning towards a predominantly digital bridge navigation system, it is important to be reminded of what SOLAS and STCW require of vessels and mariners alike. Companies should ensure that their onboard vessel procedures and Safety Management System cover not just the minimum of requirements, but also contingencies in case their vessels fall victim to primary navigation system failure.