The bridge is the area where the navigation of the ship occurs, the place where ship drivers plot and direct the ship. It is a large area that is surrounded by glass windows. At all times, there are at least 2 Coast Guard members on the bridge to steer and watch for any obstacles. In the center, there are many controls and screens to help keep the ship on course. This is command and control for the ship.
In the distance you can see the Commanding Officer sitting in his chair.
The black circles show the location of the ship. The red circles are points for navigation.
The Commanding Officer has a special chair on the starboard (right) side of the bridge. Guests may sit in the other chair on the port (left) side. It is the best seat in the house as the view from the bride is breathtaking. Binoculars are located along the windows. After every several windows, there is a small metal box. I accidentally bumped the toggle switch on the box. What a surprise! The switches control window wipers and the wash for 2 windows.
The view is always great.
The bridge is perfect for animal observation. I met two scientists for the Seabird Project, Kathy Kuletz and her son, Ivan Kuletz. They search for and identify birds and mammals from the ship's bridge. They record what they find on a laptop computer with a program that shows where they found each animal. Their job requires a mind for details and sharp observation skills as well as specialized equipment. You can learn more about what they're doing and how they're doing it if you listen to their interview here.
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