Maritime Safety Information in the Year 2000: Listen Up, Navy, the Times they are a Changin.

摘要

Maritime safety information is that special category of navigational safety data that warns mariners at sea of hazards to navigation which might encountered while underway. It does the most good when received before the hazard is encountered. The U.S. Navy pioneered the use of radio to transmit maritime safety information to ships at sea beginning in 1908. Over the years, they have relinquished this position as a leader and become a follower. Beginning in 1992, the commercial maritime world will step out ahead of the U.S. Navy using modern commercial communications technology. Unless Navy reconsiders its position on receiving maritime safety information using NAVTEX and SafetyNET, it will remain a follower and be seriously disadvantaged. The risk here is not in losing a race, but in losing a ship. Keywords: Marine navigation; Radio communication; Maritime safety; Warning systems. (kt)