Backlash against automated broadcasts
Scotland’s Stornoway Coastguard Operations Centre is piloting the use of text-to-voice technology to broadcast Maritime Safety Information.
But just one month into the threemonth trial, fishermen and sailors in the region are raising concerns, with some complaining that the ‘robotic’ voice is difficult to follow compared to a human voice. Others said they missed the warmth of a human voice.
One sailor posted on Facebook: ‘We are HATING the robot that has replaced the coastguards doing the weather forecasts on VHF. This incomprehensible zombie voice must be a hazard. Is anyone protesting? Please bring back those friendly Stornoway voices!’
A coastguard officer has traditionally read the MSI, which provides weather and navigational safety every three hours. A previous automated system was trialled in 2017, but was unsuitable.
The director of Maritime Operations and HM Coastguard, Richard Parkes, said the trial was being carried out on VHF and MF (medium frequency) radio in line with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS).
‘This new technology seeks to improve broadcast quality and provide a clear voice presentation that reduces background noise,’ explained Parkes, who stressed that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was committed to providing the best service possible.
‘As with all trials, the Coastguard will review the effectiveness of the automated system to ensure the delivery of a system that supports maritime safety,’ he added.