are " away " from " the " coast " and " the " optical " references " such " as " lighthouses," lights," signals " and " conspicuous " points " of " land," i. e." points " easily " recognizable," lack." Near " the " coast," ships " usually " sail "" on " sight ".
Obviously," the " captain " of " a " ship," under " special " circumstances," may " review " or " change " the " route " to " his " liking," and " also " the " stop " of " the " vessel," but " he " is " obliged " to " communicate " the " reason " to " his " shipping " company," which " through " the " satellite " continuously " monitors " the " location " of " its " ships.
But " on " the " Silver " Star " they " didn’ t " need " that," and " the " pilot " only " had " to " keep " an " eye " on " the " instruments " in " front " of " him." Only " the " departure " and " the " arrival " of " the " ship " required " more " attention," but " in " this " case " the " ship " made " use " of " an " experienced " ship-handler " with " a " deep " knowledge " of " local " waterways," who " boarded " at " the " appropriate " time." Only " a " local " pilot " has " the " chance " to " know " in " real " time " the " situation " of " the " port " waters," the " ship " movement " or " particular " conditions," like " the " temporary " failure " of " a " marine " signalling " light " and " similar " things." However," even " using " a " harbour " pilot " who " boards " the " ship " as " a " consultant," and " during " the " arrival " and " the " departure " of " the " ship," the " responsibility " of " the " ship " is " always " of " the " shipmaster " and " his " ofBicers."
Behind " the " UZshaped " structure," there " were " only " two " seats," one " for " the " captain " and " the " other " one " for " the " helmsman," the " other " ofBicers " stood " close " to " the " window." Behind " them," on " a " wallZfurniture " with " low " lateral " extensions," there " were " other " electronic " panels," with " the " controls " of " the " propellers," anchors," intercom " and " radiointercom " system," the " alarm " panel " and " the " recognition " device " alarms," the " Bire " detection " system," the " safety " of " the " lifts " and more else.
On " the " bridge," behind " the " wall " furniture," but " facing " aft," there " was " the " radio " console " managed " by " two " radioZoperator " ofBicers." It " was " equipped " with " a " radioZ telephone " MF / HF " SSB," satellite " communication " equipment," a " telex " via " HF " radio," computers " and " printers." Thanks " to " satellite " communications," the " GMDSS "( Global " Maritime " Distress " System)," e " mail " and " other " modern " technology," the " romantic " Bigure " of " the " radioman " with " headphones " on," trying " desperately " to " connect " with " a " land " station," no " longer " existed." One " of " the " two " ofBicers " sitting " at " the " console " was " the " Birst " communication " operator " George " Phillips," with " a " good " experience " made " on " cargo " and " cruise " ships." That " private " room," so " it " seemed," communicated " directly " and " easily " with " the " bridge " towards " the " bow," where " the " captain " and "/ or " his " deputies " were." You " would " only " go " round " the " wall " furniture " either " side " or " you " could " also " easily " communicate " verbally.
All " the " men " on " the " bridge " wore " their " beautiful " white " uniforms." It " was " the " same " for " everyone:" long " or " short " trousers " and " opened " collar " shirt " with " short " sleeves;" the " only " difference " consisted " on " their " rank " devices," gold " bars " on " black " shoulder " patches," starting " from " four " for " the " Captain," fewer " for " the " others.