Coastal shipping from the master's point of view

摘要

Life aboard a typical coaster is unrelenting. The work is physically and mentally uncomfortable, often leading to fatigue. The inevitable pressures of the marine environment, the tedium of watchkeeping, the loneliness, plus bad weather are exacerbated by poor design not just of the ship itself, but also the equipment upon which the safety of the ship depends. Naval architects would benefit from taking short passages in these small vessels to see for themselves the operational demands both on the ship and its crew. This would enable them to design more cost-effective vessels, which are easier to operate and maintain. In particular, all trainee naval architects should spend some weeks at sea in a commercial vessel to develop an understanding of how ships operate. This paper addresses the operational aspects of coastal shipping and suggests some areas where naval architects may be able to improve their designs.