On the bridge-a user´s view

Electronic displays fitted on the bridges of ships have become more accurate, and are generally much easier to operate and to read than they used to be, but there is still scope for improvement in the specification, the design and the installation of these systems before they can be truly said to provide their full potential for assisting in the safe and speedy navigation of ships. The author has worked as a ship´s Deep Sea Pilot; this involves boarding ships, usually at the western end of the English Channel and then piloting these ships between various ports in northern Europe. The ships are mostly fast container ships, or car carriers, or medium to large bulk carriers and tankers. Experience gained on board, about the good and the less good points about the different electronics systems and displays that they are fitted with, is outlined