Data trouble plagues ship traffic

A data system that monitors communication between ships and harbor traffic controllers in Oslo hasn't worked for two years. The error was discovered after a British frigate ran aground off Drxbak in September.

Recordings of conversations between vessel masters and port officials guiding harbor traffic in and out of Oslo haven't been properly stored. The data system that's supposed to store them has been tuned to the wrong channel.

The same problem has come up earlier but never has been corrected. A quarrel has subsequently erupted between traffic controllers and the data system's manufacturer. Neither side is willing to accept blame.

The lack of recorded conversations complicates investigations of accidents such as that which occurred when the "HMS Grafton" ran aground last month. The accident has been blamed on a "misunderstanding" between the frigate's captain and ship traffic controllers, but this has been impossible to document without copiesof the communication between the two.

Transport ministry officials are now ordering port officials to install recording equipment that works.

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/d169166.htm

-- Doris (reaper@pacifier.com), October 19, 2000