When it comes to avoiding shipwrecks, humanity has progressed a long way from vaguely drawn maps, navigation by the stars, and the occasional light-house. Global mapping and location systems using satellites have taken much of the guesswork out of navigation, and high-tech equipment such as radar, depth gauges, and computers give ship captains more precise information about their surroundings. Television monitors can provide constant oversight of below-deck areas on a boat, and alarms alert a ship's crew to leaks or fires. Modern communication gear can notify authorities of a ship in distress in a matter of minutes. Considerable improvements in safety equipment have been made.

Such advances have reduced some of the common causes of collisions, fires, and groundings. For various reasons, how- ever, shipwrecks have not been eliminated. Weather is a constant wild card. All the sophisticated new navigational and communication equipment must be installed...