"Tanker? What tanker?"
"That tanker!"
"Oh. Uh oh..."
"Tanker? What tanker?"
"That tanker!"
"Oh. Uh oh..."
Oh sh.t!,
can’t be good to be staring at up close and personal
I spent 6-months on the USS LaSalle in the Persian Gulf back in the late 80’s.
As an Air Force guy on the staff of JTFME, it was an eye-opening experience.
What I do remember clearly was the huge tankers just plowing along and not paying anyone any mind. Had a few wander close by the ship and never respond to radio or other signals. . .like no one was home.
I asked a Navy black shoe about that and he told me third-world tanker crews would depart their station late at night or in the early hours, plug in the INS course guidance and then go to sleep. . .trusting the ships nav system and the fact they are so huge everyone would get out of their way.
Could be the US Navy ship had right-of-way but found out too late the tanker crew just wasn’t awake or gave a darn.