Rot All Screw Steamers

[ianwright]

On the way back from Holland last month at night and on a dead run (stbd tack) I was passing across the top of the sands from Longsand Head towards NE Gunfleet intending to turn down the coast to the Blackwater.
Now then,,,,,,,, A freighter behind me overtook me at slowish speed on my starboard side. When he was abeam about a hundred yards away he sounded two hoots to indicate a turn to port towards the Black Deep (?) and turned towards me. A collision was now certain so I gybed across his stern to avoid him. It took a full 90 deg change to get out of the way.
Question,,,,, what should I have done? He could see me or else why signal? Should I have put a white flare across his bridge or sworn at him via VHF?
Opinions please.

IanW.

 

[Guest]

It's difficult to say without more details. i.e. was the vessel in a narrow channel, unable to manouvre because of deep draught etc etc. On the face of it it does seem a little thoughtless to say the least but there may have been other extenuating circumstances which may have made him take that action which you maybe might have taken into account?


Regards
Howard

 

[ianwright]

>was the vessel in a narrow channel, unable to manouvre because of deep draught etc etc. <

No, no and no,,,,,,
clear water all round, no separation scheme, not showing any lights other than normal nav lights,,,,,,,

 

[vyv_cox]

When something similar occurred to me, off the Maas entrance, I called the ship on VHF. I was told that the days of expecting power to give way to sail were over and that since he was crossing me from my starboard side he was the stand-on vessel.

In your case he would certainly not have acted in the way he did if you had been another ship, witness all the nervous calls heard on VHF around the middle of the North Sea. Vessels within a mile of each other frequently warn each other and ask for intentions of the other vessel. "Your" ship knew he had might on his side and decided to act accordingly.

 

[claymore]

They are working and we are playing. Never mind the regulations - keep clear, we are far more manouverable than they are and whats the point of getting wrecked or hurt? It's not uncommon to get cut up on the roads by HGV's but the average car is no match for several tons of Scania so we boil a bit, curse a bit, even phone the Well Driven? sticker number - what we don't do is drive purposefully on into a collision because we know it would hurt. No difference - treat them all with respect and think of them as pillocks.

 

[tony_brighton]

So what recourse do you have 9given that there was no collision)? Report him to the Coastguard?

 

[Guest]

There is also the \'I\'am bored syndrome\'

I believe that many people who are on 'milk runs' whether it be on cars, lorries buses or ships, at times, crave 'something' to happen to relieve the boredom. As Vyv says, normally when they are big and you are small. I think most of us have been on the receiving end at some time or other. This has been proved a number of times when accident experts have investigated crashes. I had a prat throwing his weight around in a ferry in the Ore this year. The only way is to try and get a witness and then take the relevant action - providing your still about to tell the tale that is.

 

[Guest]

You're lucky Ian, at least he signalled!!

On the other hand he could have misjudged your relative speeds and found himself in a position to make his turn where stopping would have been more dangerous to you. What is he to do? I guess he signalled and relied on your good grace. Still no excuse; ( he is a professional with radar) but none of us are perfect.

KCA

 

[Eudorajab]

I can assure you that its not only steamers. Try out the ol ferries round Bembridge way of an evening. Some of them seem to take great joy in heading straight for you. Maybe it is to releive boredom. One thing is for sure though, certainly keeps me awake till i get to Cherbourg.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Screw All Rot Steamers

Look. He's big. You're small. So just get out of his way.

Of course he's a b*stard, but he's a big b*stard. 'Twas ever thus.

But I'm reminded of a rugby story where a small and nippy three-quarter player was floored by a punch from a sodding great big prop. After picking himself up, the little guy (who doubtless had plenty of initials, as well as being double barreled ) went up to his assailant, and shook him by the hand. Asked why, by his team mates, he replied "I just wanted to make him feel a cad".

Maybe you should have got on the horn afterwards and with a message like "Thank you for warning of your abrupt turn across my bows, by using the correct sound signal. So many badly run ships nowadays don't seem to bother with this sort of thing when departing from the International Rulles for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea"

 

[duncan]

Re: Screw All Rot Steamers

;o)