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Subject: Re: Mercator vs. Great Circle Charts
From: Richard B. Emerson (navsys@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Aug 29 2001 - 10:56:25 EDT
Young, Derrick writes:
[...]
> 6. Do most large ships today use computer assistance to help them choose the
>
> best course across the ocean? Yes they do. They use GPS, LORAN, and some
> still have the old SATNAV system. They also use RDF (radio direction
> finding) - but you normally see this on the older smaller ships. They also
> use celestial navigation and the good old DR plot.
[...]
SATNAV has been decommisioned for some time.
Also, routing, based on weather and sea state forecasts, is now
available at the PC (consumer) level as well as more elaborate shore
services which are used to direct shipping for fastest passage and
least time (and money) spent in transit. Shipping captains' comments
on this last are often, to be kind, savage and not suitable for print.
Rick
S/V One With The Wind, Baba 35
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