“REQUIRED to reduce speed to a rate where it can stop in HALF the distance visible.
If that becomes zero then a ship is required to stop. If stopping the ship would otherwise endanger the vessel then they must anchor.”
Thank you.
Would be near impossible to have a catastrophic collision under such rules.
My first thought is they were deeply engaged in a recon mission at the cost of situation awareness?
Or as suggested, impaired operators.
That doesn't mean that it is always done. There are great pressures on merchant captains to stay on schedule.
Heaven help the US Naval Officer, Captain or otherwise, who fails in this regard.
Without more information it is impossible to know who is at fault here. That area likely sees fairly high traffic but is probably not considered restricted waters. The sea of Marmara between the Bosporus and the Dardanelles is a high traffic area with restricted maneuverability. The pucker factor would be very high.
"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)