Enjoy Ships? Fluent in Wiki? Help us launch a new feature.

March 4th, 2008 · Comments - by John -

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Are you familiar with Wikipedia? We have installed the same software running the site that put thousands of encyclopedia salesmen out of business. What do we plan on doing with the software? Giving it to you of course!

The new gCaptain wiki will offer a place for mate’s to share voyage plans, engineers to share drawing and everyone to share facts, photos and information about their favorite ships . First on the agenda is a dedicated TWIC page for U.S. mariners.

Before we launch the new feature, however, we need help. Namely a person familiar with editing Wikipedia who can administer our site. This is a paid position perfect for a cadet or young mariner. Contact us for more details.

About The Author

Captain John Konrad is co-founder of Unofficial Networks and Editor In Chief of this blog. He is a USCG licensed Master Mariner of Unlimited Tonnage and, since graduating from SUNY Maritime College, has sailed a variety of ships from ports around the world. He currently lives in Morro Bay, California with his wife and two children.
Full Profile: John

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Categories: gCaptain

Tags: · new feature, twic, wiki

Viewing 10 Comments

Nick 7 months ago 1 point
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What? The TSA TWIC site doesn't have the information you need?

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admin 7 months ago 1 point
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HA... good one Nick!

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Joey 7 months ago 1 point
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Yesterday I spent 2 hours on that god awful website Homeport. Was the worst experience I've had on the web in years.

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Tim Flanagan 7 months ago 1 point
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As a former encyclopedia editor myself, I resent your tone, sir! :-)

Just kiddin'. Let's Wiki!

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http://www.navagear.com

Don 7 months ago 1 point
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Oh great! the promotion of waypoint navigation - just what we do not need!

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Frank 7 months ago 1 point
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Don. what is your complaint exactly? I don't understand.

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Don 7 months ago 1 point
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Frank,
The new gCaptain wiki will offer a place for mate’s to share voyage plans, - it is already a recognised phenomena that the lower standards of bridge officer training when combined with electronic charting systems has resulted in published lists of way points which the navigator simply pumps into the ECDIS to create the proposed voyage plan. He does not even need to view the plan on the chart, simply punch in the numbers. Additionally, the practical manifestation is that several ships will all converge on the same waypoint coincidentally and furthermore may do so automatically if an integrated navigation system is available. Often, the tracks and course alteration points are adhered to religiously oblivious to the effect on surrounding traffic etc. the advent of an online source as described will simply exacerbate this already very real safety problem.

Regards,

Don
(Pilot, Port of London)

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John 7 months ago 1 point
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Don,

A problem I had not thought about...!

I'm removing the feature right now until we have the time to give this more thought but I would like to say it seems absolutely crazy to take waypoints from online resources and plug them in without verification. If you are a second mate PLEASE don't do this... if we offer this feature in the future please note it is only intended as a guide to enable you to see the various routes and ideas other mates have used in the past.

Anyway, it might be a moot point since we have yet to find a wiki editor willing to tackle this project.

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http://gcaptain.com

Don 7 months ago 1 point
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John,

Well done! What a pleasure to see people who are prepared to accept that in all inocence they have overlooked something or made an error. You have my professional respect! FYI, today I was aboard a ship where the passage plan actually had a copyright notice on it dated 1997! When I quizzed the second mate about it - much to the captain's amusemnent, the 2/0 explained that it was derived from a Filipino navigator who some years ago set up a significant database of waypoints and passage plans. It would seem that this is one of several that are available at a price......
Anyway kkep up the good work. One way or other we will drag the international shipping standards up to where they belong!

Best regards...

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John 7 months ago 1 point
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Thanks Don,

We are trying to make gCaptain the one small place wiht in the maritime community where common sense prevails.

We don't expect it to be easy so wish us luck ;)

Copyrighted voyage plans, wow. Unfortunately I'm willing to guess at lest a dozen 2/m's are reading your comments and going straight to google with credit cards in hand.

-John

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http://gcaptain.com