Bad boys at it again

[Twister_Ken]

It's not just in the English Channel...

1996-built, 51,938 gt, ANL Indonesia (P&O Nedlloyd containership) collided with a Singaporean naval anti-submarine boat in the Singapore Straits on Friday at 2335 hrs local time, leaving two women dead and two missing.

The aft third of the naval vessel was torn off, while the rest of the boats was reduced to twisted metal. The cause of the collision, which happened in clear weather, has not been established.

Picture at:

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,164408,00.html?

 

[steve_cronin]

But who were the \"Bad boys\"?

according to the post the commercial vessel was "...heading out to the South China Sea when it hit the right side of the aft of the naval ship, which was on a routine patrol mission.
"

Was it overtaking the patrol boat? Well, not entirely clear but the photo would suggest that it hit on the stbd beam of the patrol boat somewhere aft of amidships, therefore making it the stand on vessel and the patrol boat the violator.

If it were a case of "...navigating in a restricted channel" or "...restrained by it's draft" then it is more likely again that the patrol boat would be at fault.

We have "Moving exclusion zones" e.g. Calshot approaches, to avoid this kind of incident as it is all too easy to misjudge the speed of large vessels at close quarters because they seem to be progressing at a majestic & steady pace with little apparent bow wave. This is a much greater danger at night when movement might not be apparent at all.

It remains to be seen.

Steve Cronin

 

[Twister_Ken]

Who were the \"Bad boys\"?

Maritime professionals, whether military or merchant, were wrong. The fact that a modern containership, equipped (presumably) with good radar, and an anti-sub vessel bristling (presumably) with all sorts of detection gear could collide in a somewhat spectacular fashion must inculpate one or both parties.

 

[steve_cronin]

I hope it wasn\'t a case of....

This is the USS Coral Sea with a six destroyer escort so YOU give way..

This is a lighthouse YOU give way.

But I suspect it was just plain misjudgement.

Steve Cronin