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>the best way to avoid a collision at sea is to make big, early changes to course and speed that the other vessel can clearly recognize and act on. Longtime US
by hudibras 9y ago
>the best way to avoid a collision at sea is to make big, early changes to course and speed that the other vessel can clearly recognize and act on.
Longtime USN Surface Warfare Officer here: I can assure you that this is Rule #1 in the Navy as well.
- markbnj 9y agoIt's rather bizarre isn't it? Not just the failure to maneuver safely in the presence of another ship, but also the fact that whatever sensor technology they have didn't alert them or was ignored. Pretty much every modern commercial vessel these days has AIS and collision avoidance, I'd imagine naval vessels have _at least_ that. Just an odd thing all around, and to have it happen twice is either a hell of a coincidence or there is indeed something systemic at work.
- tbihl 9y agoFWIW, US Navy ships don't broadcast on AIS, though they monitor it. That means the other vessels around them have to look out the window to notice them (or get hailed on radio.)
- hudibras 9y agoA factor in the McCain collision will likely be the merchant ship's over-reliance on AIS and radar and not getting a visual check before turning into the path of fast-moving ship that a.) doesn't use an AIS transponder, and b.) is purposely hard to see on radar. There will be certainly enough blame to go around to hit McCain's leadership, though. ("They should have known that the merchant couldn't see them well and been prepared for yadda yadda.") The Fitzgerald collision, however, is a real mystery...
- markbnj 9y agoGood points. I would also have expected that they'd be in radio communication maneuvering that closely to a large merchant vessel in a busy seaway.