Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.




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On Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 2:01:54 PM UTC-7, Mr. Luddite wrote:
Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.




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Looking at the damage to the container ship on the port bow thats what it seems to be. AIS says it was doing 17+ knots when it happened.

Captains quarters are always on the starboard side, and I'm gonna guess thats where he was when it occured, and why he was medivaced as well.
Prayers to those missing.

On 6/17/2017 8:44 PM, wrote:
On Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 2:01:54 PM UTC-7, Mr. Luddite wrote:
Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.




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Looking at the damage to the container ship on the port bow thats what it seems to be. AIS says it was doing 17+ knots when it happened.

Captains quarters are always on the starboard side, and I'm gonna guess thats where he was when it occured, and why he was medivaced as well.
Prayers to those missing.


Ditto.

Don't know about the current Arleigh Burke class DDG's but I remember
that on the two ships I was on the Captain's stateroom was down a short
ladder and directly behind the bridge on the starboard side so he would
have quick access to the bridge if needed. I have a feeling the CO of
the Fitzgerald was probably in his rack with a junior officer on the
bridge as Officer of the Deck. It would explain why he was injured in
the collision.

On Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.





Any time you have damage on your starboard side the question of
burdened vessel might come up. Was the freighter overtaking?

This certainly looks like a 90 degree shot tho, not a glancing blow.

wrote:
On Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.





Any time you have damage on your starboard side the question of
burdened vessel might come up. Was the freighter overtaking?

This certainly looks like a 90 degree shot tho, not a glancing blow.




Looked like an angle shot as the container ship bow is not caved in, but
the front near the anchor is tore up.

On 6/18/2017 1:37 AM, Bill wrote:
wrote:
On Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.





Any time you have damage on your starboard side the question of
burdened vessel might come up. Was the freighter overtaking?

This certainly looks like a 90 degree shot tho, not a glancing blow.




Looked like an angle shot as the container ship bow is not caved in, but
the front near the anchor is tore up.


Sadly, they found the missing sailors dead in their flooded berthing
compartment.



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On 6/18/17 7:06 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/18/2017 1:37 AM, Bill wrote:
wrote:
On Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a
collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut
across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.





Any time you have damage on your starboard side the question of
burdened vessel might come up. Was the freighter overtaking?

This certainly looks like a 90 degree shot tho, not a glancing blow.




Looked like an angle shot as the container ship bow is not caved in, but
the front near the anchor is tore up.


Sadly, they found the missing sailors dead in their flooded berthing
compartment.




This is really sad...the assumption is the guys were asleep in their
bunks when the collision happened? The inquiry should be interesting. I
would have thought a modern warship would be able to sustain a heavy hit
like it took without being so seriously damaged.

On 6/18/2017 8:20 AM, Keyser Soze wrote:
On 6/18/17 7:06 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/18/2017 1:37 AM, Bill wrote:
wrote:
On Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered
vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a
collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a
collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way
vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut
across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.





Any time you have damage on your starboard side the question of
burdened vessel might come up. Was the freighter overtaking?

This certainly looks like a 90 degree shot tho, not a glancing blow.




Looked like an angle shot as the container ship bow is not caved in, but
the front near the anchor is tore up.


Sadly, they found the missing sailors dead in their flooded berthing
compartment.




This is really sad...the assumption is the guys were asleep in their
bunks when the collision happened? The inquiry should be interesting. I
would have thought a modern warship would be able to sustain a heavy hit
like it took without being so seriously damaged.


It's amazing that the destroyer wasn't cut in half. The merchant
container ship displaces 29,000 tons empty (without cargo) and was
heavily loaded making it's displacement closer to 45,000 - 50,000 tons.
The USS Fitzgerald only displaces a little over 8,000 tons. The
merchant container ship was reportedly traveling at 12-15 knots as well.

That's a lot of inertial force. Energy equals mass x velocity squared
according to some famous genius.

It was only due to the damage control training of the Navy sailors that
kept the destroyer afloat. They fought the threat of sinking for over
16 hours.

My daughter has a girlfriend who's son is serving on the USS Fitzgerald.
We are all saddened by the loss of life but are hopeful he wasn't
involved or hurt.



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On Sun, 18 Jun 2017 08:20:45 -0400, Keyser Soze
wrote:

. I
would have thought a modern warship would be able to sustain a heavy hit
like it took without being so seriously damaged.

The days of the armor clad dreadnought are gone. Ships are light and
fast. Like Richard says, this was a sports car getting hit by a semi.
It is amazing it did not sustain more damage.
There was still something strange going on here to have this kind of
crash. The plot I saw showed some unusual maneuvers but it was unclear
if that was before or after the accident.

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/18/2017 1:37 AM, Bill wrote:
wrote:
On Sat, 17 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Saw the pictures of the USS Fitzgerald and the merchant container ship
that were involved in a collision.

The bow of the merchant ship obviously hit the destroyer on it's
starboard side. Maritime rules say (if memory serves) a powered
vessel
crossing from right to left is the "stand on" vessel and the other is
the "give way" vessel and is required to turn to starboard and pass
astern of the other, stop or take other evasive action to avoid a
collision.


National Maritime College Rule:

"When two power-driven vessels are in crossing situation on a
collision
course, give way to the vessel to starboard (right).The give way
vessel
must take early and obvious action to avoid a collision by either
stopping or altering course to starboard."

Based on the damage to the merchant ship's bow and the damage to the
destroyer's starboard side, it appears the destroyer tried to cut
across
the bow of the merchant ship. There may have been other factors
obviously, like other vessels in the area.





Any time you have damage on your starboard side the question of
burdened vessel might come up. Was the freighter overtaking?

This certainly looks like a 90 degree shot tho, not a glancing blow.




Looked like an angle shot as the container ship bow is not caved in, but
the front near the anchor is tore up.


Sadly, they found the missing sailors dead in their flooded berthing
compartment.





I read a report that the bulbous bow of the container ship created a
hole below the waterline. That would explain the massive amount of
water pumping non-stop on the trip to the harbor. It would also explain
the drownings and give some better insight as to the angle of the
collision.