A new look at watchkeeping standards is needed

AT LAST week's International Chamber of Shipping's conference in London, a marketing display by the UK Hydrographic office caught my attention.

The main product being promoted was a chart display for use in shore-based offices that could replicate in real time what the bridge team on a particular ship would be looking at.

I was first fascinated by the technology and then appalled by the possible implications of this "back-seat driving". Eventually though my thoughts turned to the reasons why the shore-based management might no longer have confidence in ships' masters and officers.