“Safety of Navigation – Technology Implementation On Board

Avoiding accidents is a fundamental concern for all especially in the maritime industry. If we closely examine the factors that cause loss, we would find that there is a strong co-relation between the management of safety and how well the company is managed for efficient operational performance. Information technology has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of businesses in almost every type of industry - including our shipping industry. With the mandatory carriage requirement for the ECDIS looming on the horizon in 2012, many ship owners who have not already done so -will have to start thinking about installing the equipment in the coming years. However; these systems themselves cannot create competitive advantage for those who use them. It is the planning and processes organized by the people, who use these systems which can enhance the safety of their ships and in turn increase the profitability of their organization. It cannot be over emphasized that a safe operation is an efficient and cost effective operation and renders good results on the company\'s bottom line.