Large ships transporting hazardous cargoes, notorious marine accidents, and damage to marine ecosystems from tanker spills have heightened public concern for the safe navigation of ships.


This new volume offers a complete, highly readable assessment of marine navigation and piloting. It addresses the application of new technology to reduce the probability of accidents, controversies over the effectiveness of waterways management and marine pilotage, and navigational decisionmaking. The book also explores the way pilots of ships and tugs are trained, licensed, and held accountable.


Minding the Helm approaches navigational safety from the perspectives of risk assessment and the integration of human, technological, and organizational systems. Air and marine traffic regulation methods are compared, including the use of vessel traffic services.


With a store of current information and examples, this document will be indispensable to federal and state pilotage and licensing authorities and marine traffic regulators, the Coast Guard, pilot associations, and the shipping and towing industries. It will also interest individuals involved in waterway design, marine education, and the marine environment.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE MARINE NAVIGATION AND PILOTING SYSTEM
PILOTING PRACTICES
PILOTAGE ADMINISTRATION
RISK, THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT, AND SAFETY
MARINE TRAFFIC REGULATION
NAVIGATION AND PILOTING TECHNOLOGY
A HUMAN SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ON MARINE NAVIGATION AND PILOTING
RESEARCH NEEDS
A VISION OF THE FUTURE
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
APPENDIXES
APPENDIX A: Biographies
APPENDIX B: Acknowledgements
APPENDIX C: Papers Prepared for this Study
APPENDIX D: A Review of Studies Covering U.S. Navigable Waters
APPENDIX E: Central Features of a Complete Pilotage System
APPENDIX F: Pilot Training Requirements
APPENDIX G: A Primer on Navigation Technologies
APPENDIX H: Summary Report of European Trip
GLOSSARY
REFERENCES
INDEX