US Navy Ship and Philippine Merchant Ship Collide

[aboutime]

I was kind of wondering that, but let's wait for the resident squids (@aboutime) . There's plenty of screwy variable that go on at sea. The weather giving false reports comes to mind first. You can't turn a ship on a dime like in the movie "Battleship" (although that broadside was cool ) .

Thanks Gunny. Today, with all of the automation involved, where only one, or two civilians might be paying attention on the bridge. There's a possibility (sounds like it to me) that the Container ship changed course 25 minutes before the collision. That MIGHT have been programmed....(SHIP AUTOPILOT) like on airliners. At specific times, course changes take place...but I suspect, there was no Human intervention at the time.
On the other side of the coin. THERE IS NO REASON for a U.S. Navy Destroyer of today to NOT see, or know about the CARGO ship's movements.
As I have seen over many, many years. Despite the fact that the CO was injured, and flown from the ship. HE LOST HIS COMMAND, the second the OOD, and others on the Bridge in the Pilot House....WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
The COMMANDING OFFICER (CAPTAIN) IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING.

[Kathianne]

Thanks Gunny. Today, with all of the automation involved, where only one, or two civilians might be paying attention on the bridge. There's a possibility (sounds like it to me) that the Container ship changed course 25 minutes before the collision. That MIGHT have been programmed....(SHIP AUTOPILOT) like on airliners. At specific times, course changes take place...but I suspect, there was no Human intervention at the time.
On the other side of the coin. THERE IS NO REASON for a U.S. Navy Destroyer of today to NOT see, or know about the CARGO ship's movements.
As I have seen over many, many years. Despite the fact that the CO was injured, and flown from the ship. HE LOST HIS COMMAND, the second the OOD, and others on the Bridge in the Pilot House....WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
The COMMANDING OFFICER (CAPTAIN) IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING.

That is exactly what I heard, I think. Something to the effect: 'The container ship was heading into port and for an unexplained reason, began to turn around, into the US vessel. The assumption is that the destroyer was on auto-pilot and wasn't able to adjust in time when the 4X larger ship hit.'

[aboutime]

That is exactly what I heard, I think. Something to the effect: 'The container ship was heading into port and for an unexplained reason, began to turn around, into the US vessel. The assumption is that the destroyer was on auto-pilot and wasn't able to adjust in time when the 4X larger ship hit.'

Gotta agree, and disagree in a way Kathianne. U.S. Navy ships are FORBIDDEN from any AUTOPILOT use. The safety of the entire crew RESTS with those on watch in the pilot house, watching radar, steering, engineering, and a multitude of other safety factors. Especially at Night when only specified people are on WATCH. Watches normally last Four Hours on the Bridge (pilot house). I believe just the opposite took place, though I am only guessing; if there was any use of an AUTOPILOT, steering the ship, navigating, and engineering...I suspect, as I mentioned...it was on the Civilian ship.

Unless navigational duties have changed. I AM SURE, there are several people on the bridge during EACH WATCH.
It appears to me...the Merchant ship collided with the Navy ship, based on the ANGLE OF ATTACK (they call it) Much like two cars...ONE coming from a side street, into the RIGHT SIDE (Starboard) of the Navy ship. IMO

It also appears, from photos I have seen. The BRIDGE was struck, which would explain the CAPTAIN being injured.

[Little-Acorn]

Whether the container ship wasn't paying attention, or was deviating from its course toward port, or was totally in the right, or ANYTHING....

...how could any ship, especially a big one, possibly get close enough to a U.S. warship to collide with it?

All I can think, is that the container ship wasn't the only one not paying attention.

Has the U.S. Navy learned nothing from the USS Cole?

[NightTrain]

They found the missing 7 US Sailors... they were drowned in the crushed compartments.

Such a needless tragedy.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06...destroyer.html

[Russ]

Very tragic. These young sailors had a lot of life ahead of them. I have to agree with Acorn - I would think our Navy ships are supposed to be able to avoid stealthy, intentional attacks by terrorists and rogue states, so it is indefensible and sad that a destroyer could be a victim of an accidental and non-stealthy collision with a huge cargo ship.

[Gunny]

Very tragic. These young sailors had a lot of life ahead of them. I have to agree with Acorn - I would think our Navy ships are supposed to be able to avoid stealthy, intentional attacks by terrorists and rogue states, so it is indefensible and sad that a destroyer could be a victim of an accidental and non-stealthy collision with a huge cargo ship.

ThreatCon Level comes to mind. Security is minimal out in the middle of the sea nowhere near a possible threat. Fifty miles out at sea is a LOT of water. Nobody stands at 1 Alpha 100% of the time. You'd have a bunch of nut-cases on your hands.

It's ALL speculation at this point. If I know one thing about the US Naval Service, somebody will be blamed, and as El and At said, this Captain is cooked, hurt or not barring some miracle mechanical failure beyond human control. The Ship's Captain is God at sea. That axe swings BOTH ways.

[aboutime]

Whether the container ship wasn't paying attention, or was deviating from its course toward port, or was totally in the right, or ANYTHING....

...how could any ship, especially a big one, possibly get close enough to a U.S. warship to collide with it?

All I can think, is that the container ship wasn't the only one not paying attention.

Has the U.S. Navy learned nothing from the USS Cole?

L.A. Agree totally. As for your question about the navy learning anything. I'd be willing to bet...NOBODY on that bridge was paying attention to their duties. There should be a mass COURT MARTIAL of the C.O. the OOD, and everyone on watch at the time.

EVERY SAILOR who honestly cares about their safety at Sea these days should know. TOO MUCH DEPENDENCE ON ELECTRONICS VS WIDE AWAKE EYES ON THE BRIDGE means the difference between LIFE AND DEATH.
SOMEBODY HAS TO BURN FOR THEIR LACK OF CONTROL.

[Elessar]

L.A. Agree totally. As for your question about the navy learning anything. I'd be willing to bet...NOBODY on that bridge was paying attention to their duties. There should be a mass COURT MARTIAL of the C.O. the OOD, and everyone on watch at the time.

EVERY SAILOR who honestly cares about their safety at Sea these days should know. TOO MUCH DEPENDENCE ON ELECTRONICS VS WIDE AWAKE EYES ON THE BRIDGE means the difference between LIFE AND DEATH.
SOMEBODY HAS TO BURN FOR THEIR LACK OF CONTROL.

I always hate that it comes down to mass punishment in these cases, but bridge crews have got to be aware and on their toes.
Up there, EVERYONE is a lookout!

[aboutime]

I always hate that it comes down to mass punishment in these cases, but bridge crews have got to be aware and on their toes.
Up there, EVERYONE is a lookout!

Elessar. Agreed. You know, as well as I. It only takes ONE mistake out there to change everything in seconds. Everyone IS a Lookout...until someone falls asleep, or isn't paying attention as they should. On the MID-WATCH, on the bridge...Well...you know.

[Gunny]

L.A. Agree totally. As for your question about the navy learning anything. I'd be willing to bet...NOBODY on that bridge was paying attention to their duties. There should be a mass COURT MARTIAL of the C.O. the OOD, and everyone on watch at the time.

EVERY SAILOR who honestly cares about their safety at Sea these days should know. TOO MUCH DEPENDENCE ON ELECTRONICS VS WIDE AWAKE EYES ON THE BRIDGE means the difference between LIFE AND DEATH.
SOMEBODY HAS TO BURN FOR THEIR LACK OF CONTROL.

I actually don't get it, myself. As many watches as they have going at any given time, how can ALL miss a ship? Crap, you've got to be half-inventor to UA smoke and avoid them.

[Kathianne]

Of the 7, one could have saved himself:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/navy-sa...-or-die-trying

Navy Sailor Could Have Saved Himself, Chose to Save His ‘Kids’ or Die Trying MICHAEL DALY

06.20.17

Gary Rehm, 37, called the sailors on the USS Fitzgerald his ‘kids.’ And when his kids were trapped after the collision with a container ship, he sacrificed himself to save them.


As news spread through the rest of the 7th Fleet that seven sailors had perished when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship, the crew of another hard-luck destroyer assembled on its stern.


The USS Cole had lost 17 sailors to a terrorist bomb in 2000. The current crew gave tribute to their ill-fated comrades from Saturday’s collision by standing in formation in the shape of the digits 62, the hull number for the destroyer Fitzgerald.


“Few words can express our sorrow for the loss of our USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) shipmates—a simple picture must try,” read the caption when the USS Cole—hull number DDG 67—posted the tribute photo on the 7th Fleet website on Sunday.

...

The most senior of the seven, Gary Rehm, had his own particular word for these brothers/shipmates.


“The sailors on the ship he called his kids,” his uncle Stanley Rehm Jr. told The Daily Beast. “He called them his kids.”


And, by various accounts, Gary Rehm had saved at least 20 of them after the collision. He then went down to save more.


“He said, ‘If my kids die, I’m going to die,’” the uncle said.


Gary Rehm perished with the six others.


“He could have walked away and been safe,” the uncle noted.

...