In article , "Dave VanHorn"
writes:

Despite all the "emergency" arguments, even the coast guard dropped it.

It's a bit more complex than that.

Newer radio systems replaced the need for *radio operators* on ships in the
1990s, and the rules were changed to eliminate the need for maritime CW
capability. Eliminating those jobs saves money, so the shipping companies were
all for the changes.

The Coast Guard eliminated their use of it when the rules changed for the same
reason.

If there ever was a situation where CW might actually be needed, that was
it.

In the recent tsunami disaster, a significant part of the initial radio
communications by amateurs in the disaster area was reportedly done with Morse
Code.

73 de Jim, N2EY