Another thing that’s bothering me, is the widespread acceptance of the media’s claim that the destroyer collided with the cargo ship, when all the available evidence suggests it was the other way around. And I’m finding a disturbing lack of curiosity for the facts, as FReepers rush to place all the blame on our Navy personnel.
” as FReepers rush to place all the blame on our Navy personnel”
That’s because some of us actually spent time at sea and know what we are talking about.
It was ABSOLUTELY and INDISPUTABLY the fault of the US crew. They were transiting in the most sophisticated warship to ever sail and got broadsided by a 39,000 ton container ship at low speed.
How stupid can you be to allow THAT to happen?
There are rules of navigation. These rules determine who does what in meeting situations. If a vessel is off your starboard side, you will see its port running light. That running light is red. That red light reminds you that you must "give way", or yield.
The other vessel will see your starboard running light, which is green. That green light says you are the "stand on" vessel. You are to maintain your course and allow the other vessel to complete a give way maneuver.
There are no exceptions or special circumstances that would have relieved the navy ship of its responsibility to give way. It is not "blaming", it is placing responsibility. Every man and woman in the Navy understands this.
Barring a major engineering casualty, there is no reason for this whatsoever. Even if it is one of the busiest areas in the world, it shouldn’t happen without a mechanical failure, regardless.
It doesn’t make a bit of difference if the civilian vessel hit the warship, or the other way around. It is a US Navy warship, and if there is no engineering casualty, should have maneuvered to avoid.
There is a reason the bar is supposedly set high to attain the command of a vessel...because you are responsible for everything that occurs on your ship.
If the Captain was on the bridge, he was responsible. If his XO, or some other officer was the OOD, the Captain is still responsible.
Ships that have the capability to target and destroy ballistic missiles should not have collisions with other ships. I can understand a ship hitting an uncharted shoal, colliding with another ship in a combat situation, etc.
But not colliding with a civilian ship, even in a heavily travelled waterway.
The reason we place the blame on this Navy personnel is that those of us with experience know that without an engineering casualty, that is where the blame is going to be.
>> And I’m finding a disturbing lack of curiosity for the facts
You are correct in your reservations which I noted earlier today. I’m following up now to point out that the facts are still forthcoming which include strange maneuvers by the freighter.