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Coast Guard readies for Y2K computer bug |
Ships may be forced to anchor if deemed unsafe
By PAUL CHAVEZ
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If seafarers don't prepare their ships' computer systems for the Y2K computer bug they could be forced to drop anchor outside a harbor or reduce their speed on the nation's waterways when the Year 2000 changeover occurs.
Coast Guard officials made the announcement in June after finishing a two-day test of systems at the nation's busiest harbors the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Coast Guard also outlined its plans to keep the country's ports open on Jan.1, 2000.
The guidelines, which emphasize preparation and contingency plans, was expected to be presented to the United Nations in late June in the hopes that other countries will adopt them, said Adm. George Naccara, the Coast Guard's director of information and technology. The Coast Guard has been working on its Y2K plans for about two years, Naccara said, to keep ports across the country safe and to ensure minimal interruptions to the maritime industry. "Our No.1 concern is safety and the movement of people on the waterways," Naccara said.
To prevent collisions, oil spills and traffic jams, the Coast Guard will monitor vessels as they move in and out of ports in the hours before and after the new year. The Y2K bug may strike then because many older computers are programmed to list years in a two-digit format. Computers that have not been updated will interpret the "00"' of the upcoming new year as 1900, causing glitches in some systems.
The Coast Guard will check its database of vessels to see if a ship has contingency plans and if its computer systems, which could affect everything from ship navigation to communications, have been fixed. Vessels deemed high-risk will face restrictions on their operations. In some instances, a ship may be forced to anchor outside a harbor if the vessel is believed unsafe. Other restrictions include slower speeds for ships in a harbor; one-way traffic lanes to reduce the chance of collision; and extra tugboats to help with maneuvering.
To check its own readiness, the Coast Guard tested its systems and those of three companies operating in the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. The cargo transfer company APL, tugboat operator Crowley Marine Services and oil producer ARCO simulated Y2K worst-case scenarios that included an oil spill; engine failure on a cargo vessel and telecommunications problems. Terry McGuigan, a Coast Guard chief warrant officer, said he reviewed the 900-foot APL ship Singapore, which ran through its contingency plan for an engine malfunction.
"The crew took manual control of the ship," McGuigan said. "And they were very competent when they did that." Ron Gerde, the ship's chief engineer, said Y2K preparations were similar to the everyday emergencies that he's ready to meet. "We train todo this regularly," Gerde said from his console near the ship's mammoth engines. "I think we deal with problems and malfunctions everyday. Our major purpose down here is to decide what to do when something doesn't work right." |
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