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Re: Marine distress system

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<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote in message 
news:db19930f-f8b6-4110-8942-1fd839e14657@googlegroups.com...
> On Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 10:17:43 PM UTC-4, Anne & Lynn Wheeler 
> wrote:
>
>> ... He said that it is an ancient MS/DOS based system and
>> almost impossible to change. ...
>
> Diverting somewhat....at the harbor they had a tour of visiting Canadian 
> Navy ships.  On the bridge there were two standard office metal desks, and 
> on each desk was an IBM PC.  The screen was on, showing a vertical chart 
> of the classic ship's telegraph--full ahead, half ahead, astern, etc.  So, 
> instead of moving the wheel to tell the engine room what speed to give, 
> they set it on the PC.  Kind of a disappointment.
>
> Also, the steering wheel ('helm' or whatever you call the big wheel), was 
> a plain austere steel wheel, no ornamentation at all.
>
> Not what I was used to from the movies.
>
> I don't know about ocean going ships, but when the Staten Island Ferry was 
> powered by steam (1950 era boats), the pilot had to constantly signal the 
> engine room in order to precisely dock the ferry in the slip.  The ship 
> didn't simply sail into the ferry slip, but rather had to be jostled in. 
> There were semi-flexible wooden fencing that guided the ship in.  (Big 
> ships are docked by tugboats).

Not anymore, most do it all themselves now.

> The newer ferries have engine controls in the pilot house and allow for 
> much more precise handling.
>
> Years ago, they used to give tours of the SI ferry pilot house (opposite 
> end), but unfortunately, 9/11 and some accidents stopped that practice. 
> They also stopped letting passengers stand right at the water's edge, 
> which was a neat experience.
>
>
>
>

> 

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Marine distress system Anne & Lynn Wheeler <lynn@garlic.com> - 2015-10-21 19:17 -0700
  Re: Marine distress system hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com - 2015-10-22 07:38 -0700
    Re: Marine distress system "78lp" <78lp@nospam.com> - 2015-10-23 05:53 +1100
  Re: Marine distress system Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-10-22 11:57 -0400

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