Posted on Jun 18, 2017
Mapping the ACX Crystal's collision with the USS Fitzgerald using publicly available info
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This is going to be a very interesting story to watch play out. The damage to the two ships makes it appear that the US naval vessel failed to yield the right of way, but the movements of the container ship make it appear that it was traveling on auto-pilot with no one on the bridge. Thus, it will take a lot more information to assess fault
[RP Admins: I have no clue of how to tag this]
[RP Admins: I have no clue of how to tag this]
Mapping the ACX Crystal's collision with the USS Fitzgerald using publicly available info
Posted from vesselofinterest.com
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/2657750
I did my own assessment yesterday from the AIS track. Nominally, you're right, in the situation as it sits, the DDG did not have right of way. But there's more to this. The route of the Crystal suggests that she maneuvered to ram -- I put this at about 25% possibility, but there just is no other explanation for the track, short of VTS (vessel traffic control) directing them into that u-turn...which would be highly unusual. Add to that how close-lipped the Navy is being -- you can be sure they have the telemetry from the DDG already, it's real-time -- and my suspicions grow. Mark my words, there's more to this story.
This guy has a good technical grasp of the data points, but he's off his rocker if he thinks no one was on that bridge. NO ONE, anywhere, ever, operates giant vessels with no one on the bridge. That would be tantamount to BOTH pilots on an Airliner leaving the cockpit to take a nap at the same time. Never happen. And, no one on a ship at sea, ever, hears the commotion of a collision and ignores it -- that's your life, right there. No, this guy's interpretation is incorrect, IMO. I think he arrived at his conclusion because he's unwilling to consider the only other plausible explanation that fits the current data points: a deliberate act.
LT Brad McInnis LTC (Join to see) CPT Jack Durish PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO1 Tony Holland PO1 Robert Payne
I did my own assessment yesterday from the AIS track. Nominally, you're right, in the situation as it sits, the DDG did not have right of way. But there's more to this. The route of the Crystal suggests that she maneuvered to ram -- I put this at about 25% possibility, but there just is no other explanation for the track, short of VTS (vessel traffic control) directing them into that u-turn...which would be highly unusual. Add to that how close-lipped the Navy is being -- you can be sure they have the telemetry from the DDG already, it's real-time -- and my suspicions grow. Mark my words, there's more to this story.
This guy has a good technical grasp of the data points, but he's off his rocker if he thinks no one was on that bridge. NO ONE, anywhere, ever, operates giant vessels with no one on the bridge. That would be tantamount to BOTH pilots on an Airliner leaving the cockpit to take a nap at the same time. Never happen. And, no one on a ship at sea, ever, hears the commotion of a collision and ignores it -- that's your life, right there. No, this guy's interpretation is incorrect, IMO. I think he arrived at his conclusion because he's unwilling to consider the only other plausible explanation that fits the current data points: a deliberate act.
LT Brad McInnis LTC (Join to see) CPT Jack Durish PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO1 Tony Holland PO1 Robert Payne
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
SN Greg Wright - Or what sometimes happens , a bizarre chain of events proves that Morphy's laws are still valid. Or my favorite variation of Finagles law "The perversity of the Universe tends towards a maximum' with te wo separate agencies, who do not share a political interest ,investigating I am pretty sure we will get a straight answer.
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SCPO (Join to see)
LT Brad McInnis - Yep, an issue with the plant makes a lot more sense than an entire watch team not paying attention(which is still not out of the realm of possibility). It's just to easy for a DDG to accelerate out of the way. SN Greg Wright LTC (Join to see)
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SN Greg Wright
SCPO (Join to see) - Time will tell. I'm not 'locking in' my call on this. Too many variables. All I can say is, 25 years sailing, I've never seen a merchant ship pull a uturn unless instructed by VTS to drill holes for traffic. That said, your last sentence is precisely why I'm so wary right now. A healthy DDG/SteamSHip passing is simplicity in itself. Follow THIS rule to achieve THAT outcome. Easy.
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Capt Seid Waddell
SN Greg Wright, "That would be tantamount to BOTH pilots on an Airliner leaving the cockpit to take a nap at the same time. Never happen."
Actually, that is not accurate. It has been known to happen.
"Early in 2008, the two pilots of a go! Airlines flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii fell asleep for at least 18 minutes while in the air. The plane flew past the airport and out to sea before air traffic controllers finally were able to reach the pilots, who turned the plane around."
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/northwest-airlines-pilots-miss-airport-150-miles/story?id=8892976
Actually, that is not accurate. It has been known to happen.
"Early in 2008, the two pilots of a go! Airlines flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii fell asleep for at least 18 minutes while in the air. The plane flew past the airport and out to sea before air traffic controllers finally were able to reach the pilots, who turned the plane around."
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/northwest-airlines-pilots-miss-airport-150-miles/story?id=8892976
Wake Up? Pilots Miss Airport by 150 Miles
Two pilots of a Northwest Airlines flight Wednesday were apparently so distracted that they missed their airport and kept flying for 150 miles before landing the plane and its 147 passengers safely.
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Thank you CPT. Durish for the great share and information, have a great evening.
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