Let's expand the thread of human vs. computer error in navigation to the broader realm of ship safety: C. Marin Faure writes: >> No question human error is a factor in many accidents or mistakes. But computers simply combine the risk of human error with the risk of computer error>> I just completed reviewing an excellent book "Investigating Human Error" (Ashgate Pub. ISBN 1 84014 931 0). The author, Barry Strauch, a long time NTSB accident investigator writes: "Human, organizational, and systemic issues, rather than technical or operational issues now dominate the risks to most hazardous industries. -- In the 1960s, erroneous actions of one kind or another were estimated as contributing about 20% of the causal contributions to major accidents. By the 1990s, the figure had increased fourfold (80%). One obvious explanation is that the reliability of mechanical and electronic components has increased markedly over this period, while complex systems are still being managed, controlled, and maintained by Mark 1 human beings." This is consistent with the findings of my own research, spelled out 25 years ago in a National Academy of Sciences publication "Human Error in Marine Casualty and Near Casualty." "Regarding human error, the personnel pool of the maritime industry is aging to the point that efficiency and safety are affected. With a mean age for active ship's officers in the late fifties, and with no requirement for periodic asssessment of skills, there exists the strong probability that many men are inadequate to the task of controlling a ship in a high risk situation. Reports of respondents to this study and to USCG and NTSB accident investigations abound in instances where a human failing of knowledge, attitude, or physical capability was a proximate cause of a casualty. To date there exists no effective method of apriori identification of men who pose a hazard to themselves, to others, and to their ships." I suspect that the mean age of trawler owners is even older than merchant marine officers, and most have not had the training and experience required for commercial licensing. Admittedly the consequences of marine casualty to the community at large are less, no Torrey Canyon, Exxon Valdez, or Staten Island ferry situations, but they are still significant for the trawler owner and guests. Further, the decision response times for avoidance of trawler accidents are considerably less than the response times required for larger boats. Dangerous situations arise much more quickly. Trawler owners have to be more alert and make faster responses to avoid catastrophe. Quoting the immortal Pogo, "We have met the enemy, and he is us." Larry Z