How could such a collision take place in the 21st century, an age of sophisticated radar, satellite intelligence, global positioning systems, etc.?
How could such a collision take place in the 21st century, an age of sophisticated radar, satellite intelligence, global positioning systems, etc.?
Do enough complicated stuff long enough, and extremely rare things will happen.
All that technology is for naught if no one is paying attention to what the sophisticated radar, satellite intelligence and global positioning systems are putting on screen.
“How could such a collision take place in the 21st century, an age of sophisticated radar, satellite intelligence, global positioning systems, etc.?”
Aircraft have radar, transponders, air traffic controllers, designated routes, designated altitudes and they still run into each other.
Because these technologies only provide data to humans. That data is processed by a human and decisions are made. Those decisions, made by a human, are what caused the collision.
It is criminal to have a ship on autopilot with no one on the bridge. When being over taken one is obligated to maintain course and speed.
I know EXACTLY why as I live it every workday.
I've been the chief engineer in the USCG Academy Ship Simulators since I retired from the same service in 1991. I've taken and passed the DWO ROTR test every year. I even got my 100-ton license certification last year. I assist teaching every USCG prospective CO/XO/OPS since 1991.
It all comes down to experience and simulator time. Notice I said "AND". Just passing a book test does not mean you can translate ROTR text into the graphics of real life. Any more than a kid getting a learners permit to drive a car and they set out 10 minutes latter to drive from Maine to Orlando making sure they go through every major city along the rte95 way.
Secondly, this is a highly perishable set of skills and knowledge. One 4 year desk job as active duty and you have to start at the bottom again.
Training, testing, training, testing and training some more. That is the answer. The tools of the trade (i.e. radar) are only as useful as the performance of the operators of those tools.
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>> “How could such a collision take place in the 21st century, an age of sophisticated radar, satellite intelligence, global positioning systems, etc.?” <<
Simple:
The freighter was determined to sink the destroyer.
Their first try was a miss, so they looped back for another shot.
Watch the radar track folks!
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