Technology Can Cause Costly Distractions
THE London P&I Club has warned that improvements in telecommunications technology on board ships can create unwelcome distractions, leading to casualties. In its StopLoss Bulletin, the club notes that an alleged causative factor in a recent pollution incident involved the duty officer attempting to make a Skype call on his laptop during his watch. A VDR playback revealed that the officer of the watch (OOW) was listening to a news bulletin from his home country which was being streamed through a laptop computer. The officer appears to have missed a radar target and a VHF warning call while listening to the breaking news from home. The club says…
Festival Cruise Signs With MTN
Maritime Telecommunications Network, Inc. (MTN) signed a five-year agreement with Festival Cruises, Inc., effectively equipping the company's next two newbuilds, European Vision and European Dream, scheduled to be delivered from Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France, in 2001 and 2002, with MTN's telecommunications technology. MTN will provide onboard telecommunications services via C-band service, providing voice, fax and data capabilities. Additionally, MTN's complete maritime solution includes, but is not limited to providing phone cards, Internet access, Automated Teller Machines (ATM's), Ocean Routes and Weather News. David Kagan, president and chief operating officer of MTN…
