Watch where you are going

[Panda]

Sort of like running down a little old lady in your car because she didn't cross on a zebra crossing.

Why on earth the Coastguard would run down a smaller boat on purpose just because they have right of way is beyond me.

The Yanks are normally paranoid about liability law suits, so I can only guess there might be some law exempting the Coastguard from civil suits when they are on a mission. ???

[seatime]

Why didn't they use their sound signalling device - 5 short blasts - what is your intention, instead of yelling into a bull horn.
As if they would be heard over the engine noise at 20kts.

There is a funny story that did the traps years ago.

Exchanges were heard on MF/HF and recorded. A US warship was operating on the West Coast when a light was seen ahead. Bearings were taken and the risk of collision was deemed to exist. The US warship called the unknown vessel in the plotted position, but got no response.
They repeatedly called stating they were a US warship and if the approaching vessel didn't respond and bear away the USS whatever would see it as an act of aggression and take retaliatory action.
They finally got a response from the Canadian lighthouse they were steaming towards, that if the US warship didn't bear away they would run aground!
I wish I had kept the copy with the actual radio exchanges, the last part was very funny. cheers

[Fishinmishin]

This one?
http://www.wetasschronicles.com/USSMontana.wmv
Cheers, Jay

[seatime]

Good one Jay, that must be the hollywood version.
The printed version I saw was off the West Nth American coast.
The final exchanges with the Canadian lighthouse were more tense than the video version.
The Yanks must try and make light of it and turn it into an Irish joke. They don't like the truth to get in the way of a good story. cheers Steve.

[bugman]

Greg,

For a moment there I thought you were talking about sailboats [smiley=hanged.gif] [smiley=hanged.gif]

[adds31]

Geez, Imagine if our navy or coastguard took that approach on illegal fishing vessels up north.

Adds...

[uripper]

maybe it has something to do with American maritime "right of way" ...

This is the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a US Naval ship and the Canadians, off the coast of Newfoundland, in October 1995.

CANADIANS: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South, to avoid collision.
AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North, to avoid a collision.

CANADIANS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
AMERICANS: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

CANADIANS: Negative. I say again, you will have to divert your course.

AMERICANS: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER US LINCOLN, THE SECOND
LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, SAY AGAIN, THAT'S 15 DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTERMEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.

CANADIANS: We are a lighthouse. Your call.