Shoulden't all the ferry's have an Autopilot?

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[Third Mate]

Watching this show on maritime disasters, this one takes place in Greece. So there is this ferry who hit rocks and it turned to it's port side and sunk. Then it mentions about autopilot, so then I ask myself where is the autopilot feature in SSE's ferry's ?

[Bottman]

It is missing to avoid such calamity!

[clanky]

Surely the game would be kind of pointless if you were using autopilot?

[mvsmith]

There is little to add to those two excellent answers to a silly question—except to point out that an autopilot is available on the full-screen chart for use in such locations where it is appropriate and not dangerous.

It will disengage, or fail to engage, when used in a stupid manner.

It is also possible to write missions that allow you to switch your player ship to AI/Autopilot mode and ride her as a passenger.

[Ballast]

Surely the game would be kind of pointless if you were using autopilot?

Depends, not if you're using a heading control pilot in my opinion 

[Smithacus]

Surely the game would be kind of pointless if you were using autopilot?

Hey look! I'm simulating being a passenger on a ferry in a simulator game! I'm not doing any work at all!

Actually, if you're in New York you can hop on the ferry for free.

I thought the point of simulator games was to be able to control vessels/vehicles/planes/whatever that most people never would have ever had the chance to drive.

Actually (that's two 'actually's', do they cancel each other out?)¹ the autopilot wouldn't be too bad as I found a great way to fall asleep at night if I'm having trouble doing so is open a slow boat on a calm water with light rain at night and just cruise. The sound of the motor and rain puts me to sleep. Although waking up is disorienting as I wonder "where am I?" In my bed or on a boat? Where's my swim trunks and flippy floppies? Avast! I need more shut eye! 

¹ two actually's don't make a supposedly

[MokMok]

Ferries often use the autopilot in the real world. But somebody must be on watch at the bridge to prevent collisions, etc.

[clanky]

I found a great way to fall asleep at night if I'm having trouble doing so is open a slow boat on a calm water with light rain at night and just cruise. The sound of the motor and rain puts me to sleep.

Let's hope Ballast never discovers the sleep inducing effects of Bridge watchkeeping!