Call for accuracy

I read with interest today that your reporter Wyatt Olson apparently does not consider the port of Eastport to be a part of northern New England.

The essence of Olson’s story, “Penobscot River pilots have a new tool” (BDN, May 18) is that the Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association has been using GPS [Global Positioning System] since January to assist piloting vessels into Penobscot Bay. The story states that “His (David Gelinas’) company is the only one in northern New England using GPS, first used in the Delaware River several years ago.”

In fact, I have used GPS as a ship pilot on the Penobscot Bay and river, Frenchman Bay, and at Eastport for more than two years and have been using the GPS connected to very sophisticated software on a laptop since last year.

I am glad to see other Penbay pilots starting to use these additional navigational aids as it makes us all more professional. I would also expect that Olson to be as professional in his reporting. This was an easy fact to check out as a simple phone call to any other pilot would have given Olson a “heads up” as to the real situation concerning GPS and laptops. He managed to turn a good story into one where this reader (and others) will always wonder if he checks out the accuracy of his story. You have a great paper. Please make sure it is an accurate one. Capt. Robert J. Peacock Quoddy Pilots USA Lubec