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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