U.S. warship stayed on deadly collision course despite warning - container ship captain
Source: Reuters
Exclusive: U.S. warship stayed on deadly collision course despite warning - container ship captain
By Tim Kelly | TOKYO
A U.S. warship struck by a container vessel in Japanese waters failed to respond to warning signals or take evasive action before a collision that killed seven of its crew, according to a report of the incident by the Philippine cargo ship's captain.
Multiple U.S. and Japanese investigations are under way into how the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the much larger ACX Crystal container ship collided in clear weather south of Tokyo Bay in the early hours of June 17.
In the first detailed account from one of those directly involved, the cargo ship's captain said the ACX Crystal had signaled with flashing lights after the Fitzgerald "suddenly" steamed on to a course to cross its path.
The container ship steered hard to starboard (right) to avoid the warship, but hit the Fitzgerald 10 minutes later at 1:30 a.m., according to a copy of Captain Ronald Advincula's report to Japanese ship owner Dainichi Investment Corporation that was seen by Reuters.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-navy-asia-exclusive-idUSKBN19H13C
pangaia
(24,324 posts)"The container ship steered hard to starboard (right) to avoid the warship, but hit the Fitzgerald 10 minutes later ..."
TEN MINUTES?
PJMcK
(22,037 posts)Container ships have tremendous mass and with it, inertial force. A large ship steaming at 15-20 knots would require more than five miles to stop if they put the engines into full reverse. Likewise, it would take several miles to make a 90º turn.
Conversely, the warship is not only smaller, it's far more agile by design. This is not to discount its size but it's intended to be more maneuverable.
Something went seriously wrong on the bridge of the destroyer.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)unblock
(52,253 posts)or asleep at the helm as the case may be....
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Those are big ships, and they aren't designed for maneuverability. In all likelihood, the navy ship made a mistake and didn't respond for some reason. It was probably the more maneuverable of the two.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Girard442
(6,075 posts)It was probably taking the most vigorous evasive action possible.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)PJMcK
(22,037 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)By all accounts, he was asleep in his bed. Unfortunately for him, even when he's not on the bridge, he is "in command". His career is almost assuredly over. Right, wrong or otherwise, there are a few cardinal rules for navy captains. Getting struck is a big one, even if it wasn't technically "your fault".
(Another one is running aground. There's an interesting story about that from D-day on Omaha beach)