Collision
with another vessel
True
life situation
A
fishing vessel going East has a Merchant Navy Coaster on his
starboard bow, the bearings are steady and the distance is closing
fast, the skipper of the fishing vessel is alone in the bridge,
has died from a heart attack, the coaster collides with the
fishing vessel and sends the fishing vessel straight to the
seabed, all hands on the fishing vessel are lost.
The
Coaster should have taken avoiding action to avoid collision
with the fishing vessel as soon as it became apparent the the
fishing vessel was not complying with the Rules and Regulation
for preventing collisons at sea
Rule
17.(c) states --> A Power-driven vessel which takes action
in a crossing situation in accordance with sub-paragraph (a)
(ii) of the Rule to avoid collision with another power-driven
vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, NOT alter
course to port for a vessel on her own port side.
NEVER
TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THE GIVEWAY VESSEL IS GOING TO GIVEWAY.
The
M.C.A. takes this as a very serious offence, the skipper of
the coaster will loose his Certificate of Competency and probably
get a custodial sentence. |
