![Early AI-powered ship Mayflower - should seafarers be worried about the effects of new technology? Image: Wikimedia Commons Image:Early AI-powered ship Mayflower - should seafarers be worried about the effects of new technology? Image: Wikimedia Commons](/globalassets/news-by-topic/letters/mayflower_autonomous_ship_inside_plymouth_sound_wikimedia_web.jpg)
Seafarers should watch out. How many shipowners are willing to train their personnel on new technology? Not many; they are usually happier to poach already trained staff. If there aren’t any, then it’ll be the usual – the instruction book thrown at you and the blame if something goes wrong. I have little faith in a Just Transition.
Autonomous means self-ruling, and no ship has been that since radio was invented. I’d suggest polionomous, ruled from the city, since it’s going to be an office wallah calling the shots. Same as now, except in the end there will be no skilled and experienced crew to forestall Mr Office’s mistakes.
Rose King
More letters
Help us remember MN veterans of D-Day in North Wales
The 6 June ceremonies in Portsmouth and Ver-sur-Mer commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Landings made little or no mention of the huge sacrifice and contribution made by the Fourth Service, the Merchant Navy. We intend to put this right in a ceremony in North Wales.
Corrupt port officials: what we all do to get by
Your article 'Corruption at ports endangering seafarers' in the May-June 2024 Telegraph covers a matter never discussed before I believe. I served as master worldwide for 25 years, and found demands of this kind frequently in Central and South America, and always at the Suez Canal.
P&O pirates
I don’t remember anyone saying that the crew members of the P&O ferries were signed off Articles by the shipping master prior to their removal from the vessels.