“That means the freighter was the stand on vessel, and the navy ship should have given way.”
They should have changed course early enough to keep a CPA of a mile, or whatever is in the standing orders.
How could this happen?
Translation for non-shipdrivers:
At night, if you see the port side light of a ship to your starboard, slow or turn your ship to starboard so that you pass safely port to port or the other ship passes ahead of you. It is YOUR duty to maneuver.
At night all ships are required to display navigation lights. These are used to tell other ships about the direction the ship is facing relative to the ship viewing it.
Red, left, and port all have fewer letters than right, green, and starboard.
Full disclosure: It has been 35 years since I last had the deck.
"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)