Re: "Poverty stirs turbulence in Asian waters"

Hi, Doug,

I guess the best way to explain my view is to post (below) a response I gave to
someone who emailed me direct. He was not as kind as you, but that part and his
name are deleted. <G>

By the way... I don't believe a thing traitor GWB says.

Cheers,
Bill in Texas
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
<< Terrorists could not hijack a ship and set on autopilot so that it would run
into the docks. >>

I guess you've never heard of plotting a course and setting way points in an
electronic device. With today's GPS for guidance, that can be done very
accurately. With radar as one of the inputs, collisions enroute can be avoided.

<< At all harbors a pilot  and docking pilot are required to navigate harbor
waters. >>

That's a legal requirement, not a technical necessity. By the way, what's a
docking pilot? On every ship I'd aboard, the same pilot handled the vessel
between the roads and the dock.

<< A vessel set on auto pilot as you suggest would run aground far from
reaching any docks. >>

See above. Of course, a harbor's VTS would probably go on the alert, should a
"bogie" come into view. But is the Coast Guard equipped to board an ocean-going
vessel under way that may not have a ladder down?

Some years ago, the Japanese had a fully-automated, unmanned tankership. The
world, though, wouldn't allow that spook to roam the high seas.

Bill in Texas
Marine Service Engineer (retired)