The Navy concluded that the Fitzgerald collision was avoidable. Specifically, she appears to have violated COLREGS in several ways:
- She was not operated at a safe speed appropriate to the number of other ships in the immediate vicinity.
- She failed to maneuver early as required with risk of collision present.
- She failed to notify other ships of danger and to take proper action in extremis.
- Watchstanders performing physical look out duties did so only on Fitzgerald's left (port) side, not on the right (starboard) side where the three ships were present with risk of collision.
In addition:
- Watch team members responsible for radar operations failed to properly tune and adjust radars to maintain an accurate picture of other ships in the area.
- Supervisors responsible for maintaining the navigation track and position of other ships
were unaware of existing traffic separation schemes and the expected flow of traffic, and did not utilize the Automated Identification System to gather information on nearby vessel traffic
https://www.maritime-executive.com/...-knots-through-traffic-without-ais#gs.1BJOYWw