Studying in South Florida!
Training is going quite well!
Electronic Charting class is like learning how to design a ship simulator and planning a voyage for a ship- but intended for real life application. Learning what all menu selections and what alternate items to choose from, in order to plan a voyage is what this course is all about.
This intense and complicated system enabling a mariner to view a course, inputed into a computer, is the latest in navigation technology. Bringing GPS,surveyed oceans and navigational aids together to form an electronic chart, much of what you find on a paper map or chart is integrated into a monitor screen.
The Coast Guard sets the requirements on what the approved computerized systems shall be, and other International agencies impose guidelines of what the content should encompass. Basically, the massive ships you see steaming boldly down the coast or between waterways are following a planned voyage that was planned by an Officer and viewed simply on a computer monitor for one conning officer to abide by. In conjunction with RADAR and Automated Information System (AIS), this system of monitoring a voyage is an integral part of the navigational room on a ship, called the bridge.
I’m staying in a nice single room closeby the training facility, with nice tropical vegetation dotted along the property. A refreshing pool sits in the middle of the complex of housing with an inviting fountain with a sitting area to relax near.
I’ve also reaquainted myself with colleagues whom I’ve worked with in past, and made friends with other people who might have worked on the same ships I’ve expererienced. A pleasant experience to say the least.
Have a great day!
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