1.3 Reduced Crew Operation
Recently many young people do not wish to be seamen because of un-social working circumstances and unacceptable living conditions compared with those of shore based work. As a result, finding replacements for older seamen reaching retirement age can be difficult. For this as well as economic reasons reduced crew size is a requirement.
1.4 Short Time Education:
Associated with the above is the problem of crew education and training. The way to achieving the required numbers with the necessary skills is an urgent subject.
1.5 Environmental protection and conservation
The General Assembly of the United Nations, by resolution 49/131, declared 1998 as the International Year of the Ocean with the principal aim of raising greater awareness of the Ocean, emphasizing the importance of maritime safety and protection of the marine environment. Governments and Specialized Agencies of the United Nations are invited to organize appropriate activities to observe the Year. Being aware of IMO's role in the prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution IMO's General Assembly last year recommended that Member Governments undertake activities to observe the 1998 International Year of the Ocean and ensure that the importance of marine safety, environmental protection and the role of the Organization has highlighted such activities.
2. Technological Background to realize
Modern, new technologies are contributing to the development of ideal navigation systems.
(OHP-2)
Some of these are:
2.1 Positioning Systems ─ GPS
The new positioning technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning System) are bringing about a revolution in the way navigational tasks are performed on the bridge. Differential GPS (DGPS) and Real-time Kinematic GPS (RTKGPS) will add to this, especially in automated navigation.
2.2 Computer Technologies:
Computer Technologies are reducing human work load, assisting in achieving a reduction in size of equipment in design, and enabling the collection and processing of huge amounts of data.
