I was stationed aboard the USS Midway (CV-41), home ported in Yokosuka, for three years ('84 - '87). That ship channel was busy then, probably even more so now, but still... it's a BIG ocean.
If I remember correctly, we clipped the mast on some kind of fishing boat or something with an elevator going into Pusan, S. Korea once, but it was because they were protesting us and they got too close.
Dave Karoly, post: 433860, member: 94 wrote: What I read was the side the damage is on indicates the container ship had the right of way.
The side the damage is on does not tell the whole story. If by some chance the cargo ship was overtaking the naval vessel, and closing on it from her (the naval vessel's) starboard quarter, fault would lie with the cargo ship.
But it is hard to imagine how anyone on watch, on either ship, in such crowded waters could possibly have taken their eyes off the radar for so long to have allowed it to happen at all. The facts will become known, because both vessels have "black boxes" that will tell all.
GPS jamming?
A Harris, post: 433893, member: 81 wrote: GPS jamming?
That's a believable speculation for why the freighter on autopilot would make an unexpected move.
There had to be some inattention on the destroyer to not react better than they did.
Having to navigate in the middle of the night with radar screen, in a congested port area, should keep you on your toes. maybe double so if you were a warship maintaining security. There has to be a lot of clutter on the screens to identify and track.
