He was right, dead right, as he sailed along.
But he was just as dead, as if he’d been wrong.
AKA “the law of gross tonnage.”
AKA “right of weight.”
From the internet: ACX Crystal is a 730-foot (220 m) container ship of 29,060 gross tons, 39,565 tonnes deadweight with a MAN B&W 8-cylinder diesel of 39,265 bhp giving a maximum speed of 25.3 knots and a service speed of 23.0 knots.
Fitzgerald is 505 ft, 8900 tons, 4 GE gas turbine engines 100,000 shaft horsepower driving two five-bladed reversible controllable-pitch propeller.
IOW the Fitzgerald is grossly more maneuverable. Upon recognition that the ACX Crystal was on the starboard quarter, closing on a coverging course with a collision in the future, the OOD on Fitzgerald should have altered course to port, perhaps as much as 90 degrees to clear the ACX crystal's track rapidly. Once control of the situation was established with large bearing rate and increasing range, slow until clear, then return to base course. Another alternative is to do a 360 to port passing behind the ACX Crystal, returning to base course and adjusting speed to remain on track.
Another course, if the situation was recognized well in advance is to increase speed, hold course and pass clear ahead of the ACX crystal.