Marine Log - January 2008 - (Page 44) Letters January 2008 Vol. 113 No. 1 We need to learn to look out the window Regarding your article “Too Many Groundings,” I believe that Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) are a valuable aid when used in conjunction with radar and good piloting skills. However, it would have had very little to do with prevention of two out of the four incidents with the Empress of the North. What the AP and your article failed to mention on the Ice Harbor Lock incident is that the lock gate failed to retract to the required depth needed to exit the lock. It’s a shame that that information was left out. We were given the green light and verbal confirmation to proceed. As for the incident below the Dalles, ECDIS would not have prevented that one either. I was crew on the bridge of this vessel at the time of both the incidents. Not that I am proud to say that but I do believe in reporting the truth. There is no substitute for training and experience. All the electronics in the world are not going to help if we don't look out the window. Sincerely, H. Haskell ccording to the line ’s own ty “to trav el aboard publici- crew had Americ Ma to self in extr a Line is to immerse jestic tourist and evacuate the ship . A French aordinary his daught yourences, sha Am red by a priv erican experi- ing and feared drow er are still miss- • The coverage of suitable ned and the governmen ileged few. Last mon navigationa electron t Greek line’s 299 th, passengers abo ” cruise line has said it will routes con l charts along sele ic ard the ft stern sue for up to sidered repr cted wheel crui Empress environmen EUR 1 billi the worldwide esentative of the Nor se ship tal damage on for shipping th of nary Am s. var minimum erican exp had an extraordiof 28% and ies between a erie could hav 100%. a maximu e done with nce that they TIME FOR MANDAT m of no actual • 36% of There is evid ORY ECDIS? immersions out. Fortunately, the ence to sug number occurred. The ship routes alre selected represen gest that of ady tative the of Juneau ran aground 49 mile stantially groundings could coastal area have 100% cove near Han be subreduced s west rage in s. Canal, Ala if the carr us Reef ECDIS (Ele • For five in Lynn ska iage of of the to the resc . The Coast Gua Information ctronic Chart Dis without 100 seven routes curr rd came play ue and all System) ently were succ were mad 248 passen on board and in coverag % coverage, an incr essf e man gers e is plan ship Alaska Mar ully transferred ned for the ease IMO’s Sub datory. future. commit near Columbia ine Highway ferr to the Navigat In a prev ion will be tee on Safety of y vessel for transit ious stud mee back next mon An NTSB th and ECD ting in London mented that ECD y DNV has docu team is inve to Juneau. incident and IS is muc mea IS will be we will hav stigating the con h on the agenda, very grousure, reducing the a preventive results of whi e to awa sidering probabil nding its a new stud ch will include of what wen work to get an exp it the indicate when elec by well above one ity of y by DNV s that man lanation t wrong. tronic nau that ava dato ECDIS on However, tical cha third ilable. board ship ry carriage of rts are it must according number of be noted s would The motivat to an AP groundin cut the that ion for the report, last groundin gs by a has been Though the current g was the month’s to effectivene third. four of the Nor has been try percepti address the common study ss of ECD th “has hit th time Empress documen on indu IS elec ted aground something ies, there tronic nau that the lack of glob ssinc have bee in previous studtical cha the Nichols e it was built in or run coverage n dou diluting rt coverag al 2002 at ECDIS’s Brothers of the elec bts about the e is bey Island.” risk shipyard tial. This tronic on Whid- charts on which perception -reducing potenECDIS perf nautical of the depends. The Associa is conside major obst ormance red one ted Press acles face in Octobe cates of a In prepara reported r 2003, it d by adv mandatory that IMO tion for the hit a at the Ice requirem ECDIS carr omeeting, next mon Harbor dam navigation lock ent. DNV’s rese th’s iage River, the asked by “These resu archers wer Denmark, following on the Snake lts support e aground that an Ele on the Ore month it ran and Sweden to asse Finland Norway tronic Chart Dis cplay and Columbia ss electronic System sho Information River and gon side of the nautical cha the adequacy of it grounde in March mandatory uld be implemente rt coverag The main this year d on e. d as finding of requiremen bia near Was a sand bar in the is that the ship the DNV t for mosa Columcoverage hougal. study O. s,” comments DN t of in coastal A month V’s CEO Madsen. waters is electronic charts Henrik earlier, in “Besides, Louis Hel and is imp already very that the Europe, leni roving: good elec install such equipm more ships the mond san c Cruises ship tronic cha ent, the mor Sea Dia- • The global cove k a day rts are like rage of suit e aground duced.” tronic nav after run ly to be off able elecigational ning protorini. Mor the Greek island charts in areas curr e than 1,50 of coas ently lies 0 passengers Sanbetween 84% tal 96% and is expecte and d to increase and 98% with in a few yea to 87rs. nblenkey@s bpub.com A Too many groundin gs Second Th oughts Nick Blenke y Senior Edi torial Con sultant 4 MARINE LOG JUNE 2007 YEAR BOOK “Too many groundings,” by Nick Blenkey, in our June 2007 issue www.mar inelog.co m Mandatory drug testing: Not a problem for some I am 76 yrs old and have been a seaman since 1948, sailing as master Read “Is mandatory and random drug testing the answer?” in ML, Nov. 2007 issue under many different flags, including the U.S. merchant marine until 2002. I’m presently working on tankers during port calls. I never in my entire life, on board the vessel or ashore used any kind of drugs, not even cigarettes or alcohol! I would not object to submitting to drug tests. I think that anyone calling for “human rights” and “dignity” to avoid such testing should be viewed with suspicion. This is why he should be tested if wants to work in the industry where sobriety is imperative! Capt. Andrew K. Carlsson Testing is necessary I am in favor of a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy on all ships. I find drug testing necessary, the lives of people are at stake, on board own ship as well of others. Capt. 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