Its a Kawasaki!

[Plane]

That is hard to argue with. Using radar should be basic to anyone steering any ship. The smaller ship should always have the obligation to get out of the way, because the larger one needs more time to move.

That is almost right.

The rule is that right of way belongs to the slower, all other things being equal.


Often the larger is the faster, and often courtesy and prudence is better than rules .

[Xavier_Onassis]

I would think that any ship's captain would do anything possible to avoid a collision, regardless of rules. But it would have to be coherent and preferably in concert with the other ship.

[Plane]

I would think that any ship's captain would do anything possible to avoid a collision, regardless of rules. But it would have to be coherent and preferably in concert with the other ship.

Yes.

This is why there are international rules of the road for navigating ships near each other.

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/seafaring/34233-the-basics-of-the-sea-rules-of-the-road-in-navigation/

Part B of the Collision Regulations (or Colregs) is divided into three Sections. The first section deals with rules in all conditions of visibility, whether normal or restricted (by fog, rain or any other reason)
 
Rule 5 covers lookouts, a commonsense precaution that is often neglected- basically, this is ‘keeping an eye out for other ships and dangers’. The lookout(s) must be able to hear as well as see other ships and dangers. (‘hear’ includes listening to their foghorn, by which ships alert each other of their intentions at sea, using basic morse code in a manner also prescribed by the Colregs.) Note that a lookout is required at all times, even at anchor.

Just like your cars on the road, a critical rule requires a ship to maintain safe speed at all times. This can vary depending on circumstances, eg busy shipping lanes, poor visibility, other hazards etc.

Some sea rules of the road cover the proper use and interpretation of radar and the determining of a risk of collision (will the ship I am seeing collide with me or pass dangerously close?).

Other logical rules include the requirement that if some action is required of you, such as a change of course or speed, it should be made soon to be effective, and large enough to be obvious to the other vessel. A change of course is usually more obvious than a change of speed, but the give way vessel must slow down if required for safety.

[Xavier_Onassis]

If there were not specific rules, maritime insurance would either be much more expensive or nonexistent.
Someone here screwed up and I fear that we, the taxpayers, will foot the bill. Probably twice, in increased insurance premiums added to the price of oil, and the the damages the Navy ship did to the tanker.

[Plane]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/13/a2733013.shtml

The end of HMS Curacao.

I said to my mate "You know she's zig-zigging all over the place in front of us, I'm sure we're going to hit her."

And sure enough, the Queen Mary sliced the cruiser in two like a piece of butter, straight through the six inch armoured plating. The Queen Mary just carried on going (we were doing about 25 knots). It was the policy not to stop and pick up survivors even if they were waving at you. It was too dangerous as the threat of U-Boats was always present.

My mate and I wanted to do something, so after the collision I said to my mate ' C'mon let's sling this over' and we released the cork life raft into the sea.
Whether anyone from the Cruiser managed to climb aboard the raft I've no idea.

[Xavier_Onassis]

I find it unusual that a British cruiser would be named for a Dutch Island (Curaçao). The name, by the way, means "cured" in Portuguese, as it was a first stop for sailors crossing the ocean who frequently had scurvy, and were cured by eating fruit there.
It has never been British.

The British have given some rather wacky names to their naval ships: Spiteful, Bullfinch, Ferret, Revenge, Narcissus, Terrible, Experiment and Dapper, just to name a few.

Their various Britannic majesties have had so many islands in the Empire that naming a ship after someone else's island seems rather odd. But the British are quite odd when it comes to naming ships in their navy.

I don't think anyone has ever ascertained the nationality of the Old Navy.
Based on the origin of their merchandise, China would be a fairly good bet,