Do you know for a fact there was not other traffic present?
The Naval Institute has a website blog where a Navy Lieutenant Commander suggests some changes.....they are not finger pointing, just suggested changes.
https://blog.usni.org/posts/2017/06/21/three-changes-the-navy-can-make-to-improve-safe-navigation
The Naval Institute has a website blog where a Navy Lieutenant Commander suggests some changes.....they are not finger pointing, just suggested changes.
https://blog.usni.org/posts/2017/06/21/three-changes-the-navy-can-make-to-improve-safe-navigation
A U.S. warship struck by a container vessel in Japanese waters failed to respond to warning signals or take evasive action before a collision that killed seven of its crew, according to a report of the incident by the Philippine cargo ship's captain.
Multiple U.S. and Japanese investigations are under way into how the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the much larger ACX Crystal container ship collided in clear weather south of Tokyo Bay in the early hours of June 17.
In the first detailed account from one of those directly involved, the cargo ship's captain said the ACX Crystal had signaled with flashing lights after the Fitzgerald "suddenly" steamed on to a course to cross its path.
The container ship steered hard to starboard (right) to avoid the warship, but hit the Fitzgerald 10 minutes later at 1:30 a.m., according to a copy of Captain Ronald Advincula's report to Japanese ship owner Dainichi Investment Corporation that was seen by Reuters.
The U.S. Navy declined to comment and Reuters was not able to independently verify the account.
First hand acct from ACX Crystal's captain
Exclusive: U.S. warship stayed on deadly collision course despite warning - container ship captain | Reuters
The Naval Institute has a website blog where a Navy Lieutenant Commander suggests some changes.....they are not finger pointing, just suggested changes.
https://blog.usni.org/posts/2017/06/21/three-changes-the-navy-can-make-to-improve-safe-navigation
So according to the report, the container ship turned hard to starboard and 10 minutes later collided.
Never expect one of those big boys to maneuver to miss you. They simply can't do it.
I don't have the link but have seen AIS recordings showing other vessel's, movements in the area, some on parallel courses I'm both directions, some on crossing courses. Maybe there should be some new convention whereby navy ships transmit but with lesser data broadcast, somewhat like us smaller guys do. A long time ago now and before we had AIS on our boat, but did have radar, we were in a cat and mouse game in thick fog on a Friday night in the English Channel. We were southbound and had a radar target crossing us going east west, outside of the regular 'lanes' between the TSS areas of Casquets and Dover. To avoid a complicated plotting situation, even as stand on vessel, we stopped for a while to allow the target to cross unimpeded, but when we stopped, he stopped again too. We moved again on same course as did he, we stopped again, so did he. Then another target with a larger radar paint appeared astern of our 'wanna play cat' and he took off like a ...well... scalded cat, clearing the playground for us rather nicely. We later discovered one of the local Customs and Excise (Revenue) cutters was in the area and suspect he was the cat to our mouse, possibly practicising, possibly suspicious of a small target (we were a 41 foot sailboat under sail) outbound in thick fog at night and headed for a wine buying weekend in France. There were other vessels crossing at speed in both directions parallel to our course, most probably cross Channel ferries, all clearing us nicely and the main reason we initially tried the stop tactic rather than stand on regardless.
So according to the report, the container ship turned hard to starboard and 10 minutes later collided.
Never expect one of those big boys to maneuver to miss you. They simply can't do it.
So......if a junior officer is in charge...and decides to play "chicken" with a freighter rather than alert the captain....does the captain still get punished for the collision ?
Interesting. One thing I noted was him saying they signaled with flashing lights. No radio? No sound?
Scott
You joined the military and have to live by their rules and that is why you are so respected the world over. The military is held to a higher standard and I'm glad they are. I want my heros up on a pedestal! Life ain't fair!