MSI to Present Paper for High-Speed Ferry Operators

Dr. Eugene Guest, director of MarineSafety International, will present a technical paper contrasting approaches to crew training for aircraft and rapidly evolving maritime high-speed craft (HSC) at the Fast Ferry International Conference and Exhibition to be held in Boston, February 16-18. Dr. Guest, an experienced merchant marine officer and former professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, states in his paper "high-speed ferries and airplanes are conceptually similar vehicles. Although they travel on the water instead of through the air, high-speed craft resemble passenger aircraft considering their light construction, power-to-weight ratios and operating procedures. Both can be classed as fast response dynamic systems and operator training should be comparable." He compares FlightSaftey's training of pilots with the approach and coverage to be required by high-speed craft bridge teams, and proposes a course of similar training for the crews, including "type" (specific instrumentation, controls and response characteristics) and "line" (specific routes) training. In addition, MarineSafety will sponsor a "hands-on" exhibit simulating high-seed operations in Boston Harbor and Long Island Sound.