THe Pilot House

With the Engineering Department roughly described, let’s look at the argumentably next most important department on ship. (Every department thinks that they are the most important department on ship.) Operations Department keeps the ship going where it’s supposed to go while staying out of harm’s way and defending the ship if needed. The brain of this department would have to be the Bridge, otherwise known as the Pilot House. Here is where the navigator stands to control the rudder and change the speed of the ship. Here is where the captain stands in times of trouble and where there is always an officer on duty to make quick decisions if problems arise while the captain isn’t in the room. This is where reports are made of nearby ships or aircraft and where the captain’s official radio channel is plugged into the ship. This is also where all the intercom announcements are made to the whole ship while underway. It is the main setting for many science fiction television shows and movies as well. How often do you see people (usually the screen is filled with officers) in engineering discussing problems or in the halls or mess decks? Now compare it to how often conversations are made in the captain’s office, someone’s quarters, or the bridge. Most often writers tend to focus on the bridge and as a result there are many ideas to adapt to your own setting.