A Question for Sailors

smstonypoint · Aug 24, 2017

Let's gauge strength of opinion on this.

I am willing to make a $20 contribution to a charity of your choice if the official Navy findings indicate that the Fitzgerald and McCain collisions were caused by cyber attack.

If the official Navy findings indicate that the Fitzgerald and McCain collisions were not caused by cyber attack, you will make a $20 contribution to a charity of my choice.

The offer expires at 12:00 pm (EDT), 8/31/2017.

Any takers?

Steve

bcp · Aug 24, 2017

If the collisions were caused by cyber attack against the Navy ship, would the Navy admit it publicly?

If the collisions were caused by cyber attack against the merchant ship, would the Navy admit it publicly?

Bruce

/pine · Aug 24, 2017

The technology available to the public is probably at least 10 years behind what the military uses...(that's the way it's been with most modern technology advances)...i.e. for at least ten years the military had gps systems with pinpoint location accuracy...before it was available to private mariners etc...

Actually I was mostly referring to device firmware upgrades and not so much daily chart updates...

a lot of newer ships do not have conventional wheels...they have joysticks which are hardwired...so there are many way to use malicious computer code to disable anything that is "fly by wire"...just saying...

regular updates to mariners are published and broadcast every hour or so via fax,internet, VHF...

houstonscott · Aug 24, 2017

bcp said:
If the collisions were caused by cyber attack against the Navy ship, would the Navy admit it publicly? If the collisions were caused by cyber attack against the merchant ship, would the Navy admit it publicly? Bruce

If they were caused by affirmative action, would the navy admit it publicly?

RichM752 · Aug 24, 2017

Cyber attack? Really?
I retired two years ago, after 38 yrs in U.S. Merchant Marine. Traveled work wide,the last 24 yrs as officer in charge of navigational watch. One rule I followed and it served me well. If grey steer away. I rest my case.
Oh.....and looking out of the window always served a good purpose.

smstonypoint · Aug 24, 2017

RichM752 said:
Cyber attack? Really?
I retired two years ago, after 38 yrs in U.S. Merchant Marine. Traveled work wide,the last 24 yrs as officer in charge of navigational watch. One rule I followed and it served me well. If grey steer away. I rest my case.
Oh.....and looking out of the window always served a good purpose.

Rich,

How about the navigational skills of the Coast Guard?

Steve

/pine · Aug 24, 2017

smstonypoint said:
Rich,

How about the navigational skills of the Coast Guard?

Steve

The collision happened where I'm in FL...I remember it well and passed the buoy marking the resting place many, many times (artificial reef) on the way to deeper fishing grounds...

USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) - Wikipedia

smstonypoint · Aug 24, 2017

/pine said:
The collision happened where I'm in FL...I remember it well and passed the buoy marking the resting place many, many times (artificial reef) on the way to deeper fishing grounds...

USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) - Wikipedia

And the grounding of the Sagebrush (USCGC Sagebrush (WLB-399) - Wikipedia) was mentioned earlier in this thread.

I recall a watch I served as QM under a new XO (a Lieutenant) aboard the Madrona, another buoy tender. As we approached a drawbridge, the XO inquired as to the horn blasts used to signal a request that the bridge be opened. I wondered at the time whether he was testing me or whether he didn't know.

* Based on additional evidence, I came to the conclusion that he didn't know.

Steve

* I knew the answer then (50 years ago), but I would have to look it up now,

buickanddeere · Aug 24, 2017

Come to think of it , if a GPS jammer was used or worse yet a bogus GPS transmitter was used to purposely send the ships off course and into each other ..... Highschool kids with the proper equipment could built such jammers. Little different really than the radar jamming tech used on the EA-18Growler. Could be spooks from a foreign nation making a test run.
The military has taken a sudden interest recently in the 1980's and 1990's Loran systems. Not as accurate as GPS but simple and relatively jamming resistant .