Interesting. And strange.
So, if both ships were running dark, no nav lights (for whatever reason, especially in a busy seaway) or only one was running dark at 1:30 am, I think the Rules of the Road don't apply. I like the theory about Crystal crew being asleep and the autopilot controlling the ship. I would think that the lights on the freighter would have been lit, especially if I'm at the helm and feel a bit sleepy. My ship is big and slow (although 18.5 knots is not slow in my mind) and just a little nap would feel good. Oops, what was that, we hit something (red point 1 on @CloudDiver plot) crap maybe I forgot the nav lights on my shift. Better wake the Captain. In the meantime the autopilot, still engaged, makes a very quick adjustment to original course after the glancing blow. Not t-boned. Then it takes an hour or so to come to a conclusion about damage and contact with the parent company and coast guard. Captain orders return to impact coordinates. All hell breaks loose. Of course this becomes a human error root cause...just my opinion....and my sympathies to the families and friends of the 7 departed sailors.
Fundamental rule. Maneuvering at night in traffic, NEVER TURN TO PORT...........
The link includes a picture of the Porter. Which made me realize that the Porter and Fitzgerald were struck at almost precisely the same location on the ships. And with similar damage.
After hearing this audio track, I'm leaning towards OOD training and whether a partial college degree, and a few months of training is enough to give full control of a $1B destroyer to the "Kids"?
Missed?
My take on the audio was that the JO who had the con at the time was in fact the best head on the bridge. He was practically begging the Captain to maneuver and slow down, but the Captain actually overrode the OOD and refused to maneuver. Without relieving him I might add. I imagine the JO ended up taking enough blame for the collision to pretty much end any ambitions he may have had for higher rank. The JO kept repeating "...I'd like to...." rather than giving the order. Tough spot for him to be in, but that's how future admirals are made. To me this is very similar to aircraft accidents where the PIC ignores suggestions from the 1st officer which, if taken, may have saved the day. That's one of the reasons the FAA instituted the Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) training.
I had been looking for updates on this story but it was quickly lost in the storm of 'other news'... Signaled by flashing lights 10 minutes before collision? Looks like we are back to the age old question; who was the stand-on vessel and who was the give-way vessel?
Rick
In the case of a close crossing with a stand on vessel (not "about to be hit" by a stand on vessel wherein something should have been done earlier), turning right increases the bearing rate, yields to the stand on vessel, and converts ownship into the stand on vessel. Turning to port in that situation reduces the bearing rate and puts ownship at risk for other potential stand on vessels hidden. In the recording above the captain overruled the OOD to turn to port in traffic somehow not noticing there was another vessel hidden. The OOD wanted to turn to starboard, which was the safe maneuver.
Gunni, Fitz is a BMD Destroyer, they never run in Battle Groups rather mostly independent ops. Kinda like Boomers on patrol, but its an anti-ICBM patrol.
