P.S. It is my guess that the Fitzgerald was actually hung up on the anchor and drug along for a while (just a guess, but probably at least several minutes), which is what made the ACX Crystal make such a sharp turn.
Reports are the the entire HULL of the Fitzgerald is TWISTED.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3562360/posts?page=77#77
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IMO, Crystal's total accident deflection was recorded in the data for the 16:30Z point. Don't let Crystal's position to the south three minutes after the collision fool you. IMO, that was an "avoidance move".
My analysis indicates that Fitzgerald was traveling faster than Crystal at the time of impact.
Fitzgerald wasn't "dragged" down to the south. When the Crystal returned and circled her an hour later, she was , apparently, well to the north of the point of collision.
IMO the Crystal's "sharp turn to starboard" due to all the forces of collision (impact by the faster Fitzgerald, rudder inputs, etc...) was a maximium of 12 degrees (from 70 deg to 88 deg).
“”Fitzgerald was actually hung up on the anchor and drug along for a while””
Thanks for bringing the role of the anchor. To my knowledge it has not been discussed before.
I agree the Crystal’s port anchor looks like it got hooked into the Fitzgerald as the anchor appears bent and is hanging outside the hawsepipe.
But it believe it was the Fitzgerald dragging the Crystal with the hung anchor and not the Crystal dragging the Fitzgerald.
Most have agreed the Fitzgerald was likely moving faster than the Crystal at the point of collision.
If the Fitzgerald was dragging the Crystal that would explain the 90 degree turn made by the Crystal in the three minutes following the collision.