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 .