[artichokegrower]

“While the Master was in contact with the head office, gun shots were fired and, shortly thereafter, the navy vessel approached the starboard side at speed with an angle of 135° and purposely collided with the RCGS RESOLUTE. The navy vessel continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship’s head towards Venezuelan territorial waters,” it added.

The Venezuelan Navy called the Resolute’s actions cowardly and criminal, accusing the Resolute of not stopping to attend the rescue.

So the ship was supposed to hang around and rescue the crew of the other ship that was shooting and ramming it? I think not.

[norwaypinesavage]

The mighty Communist navy strikes again. Rule 1: Never rescue someone who has tried to capture you.

[rockinqsranch]

So then let me get this straight. The armed Venezuelans do something stupid, and the by law unarmed victim of the stupid is supposed to stop, and place themselves in jeopardy of the armed stupid, and under duress by the stupid be ordered at gunpoint to land the armed stupid in some Venezuelan seaport where the victims of the stupid will all be imprisoned under false charges, and left to rot until someday the Venezuelan situation is resolved.

I think I’d accept the label of “coward” under those circumstances, and let the Venezuelan crew practice ditching at sea.

[edwinland]

Ha ha! Just when you think the communists in Venezuela couldn't possibly be any dumber, they go and do something like this ... and totally make our day!

[CodeToad]

This was an act of war. I hope the Venezuelan government suffers further retribution.

[bray]

Was Bernie at the helm?

[NorseViking]

It is never a good idea to ram an icebreaker.

[bkopto]

A cellphone video of this would be epic. Here’s hoping...

[deport]

The surviver cruise ship

The rammer that is now resting on the bottom underwater

[PIF]

Corrected Headline:
A Venezuelan Navy ship has sunk after colliding with repeatedly ramming the ice-strengthened hull of an expedition cruise ship earlier this week.

[Popman]

Venezuelan Navy Pirate ship

Corrected version

[IronJack]

The Venezuelan Navy called the Resolute’s actions cowardly and criminal

And the actions of the Venezuelan Navy were what? Noble? Courageous?

[John O]

I love happy News!!!!

[Rodm]

Isn’t a song like that:
Sailing
Socialist Sailing
Blub . . . Blub . . . Bloop!

[dfwgator]

[Lockbox]

Well Captain, your Navy ship was sunk by an unarmed Cruise Ship. That will leave a mark on your record!

[golux]

I really can’t express how insane this story is.

As a licensed Master I can’t even believe how this could happen.

The only word I can think of is... Insane!

Of the many questions, why would a vessel not making way be rammed?

Why?

[NormsRevenge]

Kind of bad luck on the Venezuelans part, picking a ship that can also do a bit of icebreaking.. it has a reinforced hull for just such a journey.

[JimRed]

It was not a collision; it was an intentional ramming. Sinking serves ‘em right!

[prophetic]

I suspect that the captain of the cruise ship used the "Crossing the T" tactic on that poor warship, and used his bow to cut amidship.

Funniest thing I've read all week!

[Oatka]

So the ship was supposed to hang around and rescue the crew of the other ship that was shooting and ramming it? I think not.

Agreed. All the skipper has to say is something like "I didn't stop to pick up survivors because, due to the hostile intent shown, I thought I might be torpedoed by a sub."