"renewontime dot com" wrote in message news:

I didn't mean to imply that -all- big ships operate at speeds over 30
knots, I was trying to make a point in reply to the original posters
question and some of the misconceived replies, ie. "at least an hour will
pass from when I see a contact on the horizon to when it will hit me". My
point is that ships at sea operate at a wide variety of speeds, even in
excess of 30+ knots, and as a cruiser you need to be aware of this.

Very true

As for "high speed" ships out there, I think you guys are off on
this. All the newer ships are being built to operate at 30 knots or
greater. There are a number of "fast" container and oil carrier ships in
the works, and shipbuilders are starting to deliver "fast" ferries that
will operate at 40+ knots. And it won't stop there, I've read that the
designers have plans for ships that will operate at 50 to 60 knots.

The number of ships of any type running at 30+K is small and will remain so
for some time. Biggest problem becomes HP to get them to that speed versus
fuel consumption. (one reason the the previously mentioned SL-7"s are now
all US Gov.... they're the only ones who can afford or justify running
them).
High speed ferries, on the other hand, running in the high 30's are becoming
"a dime a dozen".
Newer technologies, as you say, are on the drawing boards.

See my post above. I think a lot of flag of convenience ships don't
have their radar on all the time, probably to save the cost of replacing
the magnetron.

That's not been my experience at all, but you're welcome to believe what
you want.

G I'm probably in between both of you on this.
First off, the problem is less "flag of convenience" and more "owner,
operator".
Since ships all have at least 2 radars, both of which are at least on
"standby" at sea (exceptions noted), coupled with ever increasing
enforcement and penalties for non use, the old "magnetron" excuse is falling
by the wayside.
However, it's not a perfect world and there are still too many fools out
there running with radars turned off in open ocean conditions.

otn