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.
I understand that. What I don’t get, is how the destroyer rammed the cargo ship, and how there was nothing the cargo ship could have done to avoid being hit by the destroyer. And I don’t get how the cargo ship’s speed of 19.3 knots was slower than the destroyer’s speed of 0 knots. Or how the destroyer rammed the bow of the cargo ship with its own starboard side.
Yes, I get it that the crew of the destroyer bears some responsibility. I don’t get how FReepers can overlook the facts in their rush to declare our navy a bunch of incompetent boobs.
BykrBayb, see my post 54 for a graphic that might help you under stand the situation.
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)