A couple of days ago (when I was not quite in a writing mood), I took a tour of the ship’s bridge.
To a pilot, the instrumentation seems rather simple for a vessel of this size. Of course, they are spread over what could be the lobby of a modest hotel.
(A little detour here. Nautical terminology sounds vaguely familiar to those who fly airplanes. Like a dialect of pilot-speak. For instance, both ships and planes have cockpits. That is not an accident. When aviation began, it borrowed heavily from ship jargon.)
To a pilot, the instrumentation seems rather simple for a vessel of this size. Of course, they are spread over what could be the lobby of a modest hotel.
(A little detour here. Nautical terminology sounds vaguely familiar to those who fly airplanes. Like a dialect of pilot-speak. For instance, both ships and planes have cockpits. That is not an accident. When aviation began, it borrowed heavily from ship jargon.)
Cruise ship captains, who spend a good deal of time pressing the flesh and having their photograph taken with that nice couple from Akron, are frequently (and repeatedly) asked: “ Who’s driving the ship?” The answer is: “The same person who steers the ship for almost the entire cruise. The computer.”
The array of computer and radar screens is impressive. Not to mention several panels showing the status of water-tight and semi (yikes!) water-tight doors.
As a terrible parallel parker, I have always been impressed with how easily the officers take the ship in and out of dock. The days of tugs are gone with the advent of bow thrusters and azipods.
The array of computer and radar screens is impressive. Not to mention several panels showing the status of water-tight and semi (yikes!) water-tight doors.
As a terrible parallel parker, I have always been impressed with how easily the officers take the ship in and out of dock. The days of tugs are gone with the advent of bow thrusters and azipods.
5 comments:
I seem to recall we were supposed to have a similar tour...Apparently Voyager doesn't take security as seriously as Navigator! :(
Ships seem to vary a lot. For example, I spent almost an hour with the sound guy in the theater.
Ships seem to vary a lot. For example, I spent almost an hour with the sound guy in the theater.
And others run when they see anybody without a badge eyeing them for conversation. I recall talking with a stage manager after the behind the scenes tour only to be kicked out for rehearsals moments after the tour ended.
I guess some of us are gifted.
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