US Navy ship in collision

[Graham Kennedy]

source

A US Navy destroyer has collided with a merchant vessel close to Japan.

The collision involving the USS Fitzgerald happened 56 nautical miles south-west of Yokosuka around 2:30am local time (18:30 BST) on Saturday. The extent of injuries and damage is being determined, the US Navy said.

The Navy has requested help from the Japanese Coast Guard. Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, reported that the US ship was said to be listing and help was being sent.

NHK said the coastguard's patrol ships and planes have been dispatched to the area.

There's a few careers down the pan.

So how the hell do you collide with a merchant ship when you're fifty miles out to sea? Surely there's enough room out there that you'd never have to come anywhere near another ship? Or was this some crowded sea lane with ships all over the place?

[Graham Kennedy]

Reports say seven crewmembers are missing.

[IanKennedy]

I can only assume they went overboard when it hit, as there doesn't seem to be a hole in the side of the ship.

[Captain Seafort]

I can only assume they went overboard when it hit, as there doesn't seem to be a hole in the side of the ship.

Bodies found and identified, on board

Short version is that she suffered severe damage below the waterline and some of the crew quarters were flooded.

[Teaos]

That's always the way on ships. Even cruise ships have the crew in areas most likely to breach.

[IanKennedy]

Ah, that sort of missing. I thought they meant after they had searched the ship...

[Captain Picard's Hair]

Here's some more information:

https://arstechnica.com/information-tec ... alf-of-it/

So evidently the merchant ship made some odd maneuvers, but since the US Navy ship had it's AIS tracking system off no collision warnings would have sounded. Also, the images do show a lot of traffic in the area. Presumably the unexpected turn of the merchant vessel and the sheer number of ships to track confused the bridge crew on USS Fitzgerald.

[Coalition]

When you have the faster/more agile ship, let the other guy cross first. Basic rule for boats

Similarly, if you are going to cross the path of a cargo ship, cross the rear of the cargo ship's path, not the front.

What they could have done is travel astern of the cargo ship, using it as a 'plow' to make sure nobody got in front of them

Still, sad loss for the families of the seven

[Captain Picard's Hair]

For some reason this brought to mind sea captain training, Naked Gun style