“What was going on that prevented prompt report?”
I sent 6-months on the USS LaSalle in 1989. Saw all sorts of tankers coming and going through the Persian Gulf.
Tanker traffic early morning were usually on auto-pilot and the third-world crew is in bed. No matter right of way, the tankers just plow ahead because the crew is asleep.
Why the delay? Probably because the US Navy has to pilot the ship first, then activate ship-board actions.
A “mayday” call immediately after the collision doesn’t help because what can anyone do except maybe send a post-card to your family next Christmas.
The ship and crew are trying to figure out what happened and they do not have complete knowledge of the circumstances. . .but they do need to drive the ship, assess damage, account for crew, save the tapes, fight fires, stop leakage, communicate with nearest ship in the squadron for immediate help, activate ship-board damage control protocols and teams, etc. . .a lot to do before calling someone.
“Mayday, this is the USS Pelosi, I don’t know what just happened, have no idea if anyone is hurt, have no idea how badly damaged the ship is, clueless if the ship is still underway, making way. . .don’t even know if I need immediate assistance. . .”
Just my thoughts.
I had a summer job as a teenager of a Danish cargo ship (40+ years ago) and even as a very junior member of the crew I had to have my turns at being on watch. We always had at least three of us on watch... the junior members watched port and starboard sides (usually standing out on the flying bridge) while a more senior guy was inside the bridge manning the controls.
We were a small ship, only 9,000 tons, so the last thing we wanted was to get creamed by some giant freighter. We all took our watch duties very seriously for sure.