Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Apparently the freighter was on auto pilot when it struck the USS Fitzgerald.

It still doesn't explain why the Fitzgerald didn't make an evasive move. Also is their an international frequency that the crew could have used in an attempt to contact the freighter?


http://freebeacon.com/national-security/freighter-autopilot-hit-us-destroyer/

Certainly makes you question the "readiness" of a destroyer that can't evade a 730 ft cargo ship. Might be more "excusable" if they were in a really tight area, but it sounds as if there was plenty of room for evasive maneuvers by the Fitzgerald.

So, nobody onboard the freighter got a clue it was doing a 180* turn at cruising speed?

More stink to that story than anything else...

Look at the freighter's apparent track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1b58yelh_c

Looks a bit odd.

There is an EXCELLENT article in Proceedings, written by a Navy Captain who commanded three cruisers and sailed those seas. Look for the operative words or phrases: "bridge clilmate", CO's standing orders, burden of command, etc.

Fitzgerald

I'm not a sailor but I noticed how high the container ship is riding. I'm sure there's a reason.

From the article:

"Commercial ship autopilot systems normally require someone to input manually the course for the ship travel. The computer program then steers the ship by controlling the steering gear to turn the rudder.

The system also can be synchronized with an electronic chart system to allow the program to follow courses of a voyage plan."

....

"Private naval analyst Steffan Watkins said the course data indicates the ship was running on autopilot. "The ACX Crystal powered out of the deviation it performed at 1:30, which was likely the impact with the USS Fitzgerald, pushing it off course while trying to free itself from being hung on the bow below the waterline," Watkins told the Free Beacon.

The ship then continued to sail on for another 15 minutes, increasing speed before eventually reducing speed and turning around. "This shows the autopilot was engaged because nobody would power out of an accident with another ship and keep sailing back on course. It’s unthinkable," he added.

Watkins said the fact that the merchant ship hit something and did not radio the coast guard for almost 30 minutes also indicates no one was on the bridge at the time of the collision."

More or less what I said back on the 18th. in this thread:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/12094901/5

My current boss happens to be a retired Navy Commander. He said that the Fitzgerald was the give way vessel in this situation, was required to take evasive action to avoid collision.

Yep - that's SOP in similar situations..

Good read. Check out Commander Salamanders blog also.

Get me straight on this. The "U" turn made was 25 minutes before the collision?

Looking at the track makes me think something went haywire in the guidance system. If you are below decks and a ship this size turns it is very likely you would not feel it, especially if you are asleep.

The answer I think, is somewhere in the issues the author raised:
Bridge climate (CO's leadership style)
Indecision of the OOD to take action given the verbal and visual clues been fed to him
lack of communication on the bridge.
Bottom line, if there is doubt, the Officer on watch MUST make the CO aware with sufficient time to make the call. ITS HIS SHIP AND HIS NECK.

To wit: During my last operational deployment (Enduring Freedom) in 2002 on board the JFK (CV 67), we ostensibly turned day into night, in other words almost all our flight ops were conducted after dark so during daylight hours, the CO/XO and most all Department heads slept. As the senior CDR on board and Command Duty Officer (Underway) qualified (and also as Air Officer), I volunteered to stay up and be available for the OOD should an issue arise before calling the Old Man.

We had a CH-53 inbound from the Beach (we were in the Indian Ocean right up against Pakistan with parts) when he declared an emergency about 30 minutes out. The Flight Deck was being "re-spotted" for the evening launch and although the flight deck was pretty much closed, the Landing Area (LA) was open as the E-2C Hawkeyes stayed up into daylight hours and it was about an hour out. I was in the CO's chair on the bridge and the AIr Boss was getting ready to clear the 53 and I objected. What if the 53 lands, [bleep] the bed, clobbers the LA leaving little or no time for a re-spot before the E-2 showed up? At that time E-2s had no in flight refueling and would not have enough fuel to "BINGO" to the beach. So the options were, bet on the come the 53 could land with enough time to move him out of the way, or pitch it over the side, or gamble on the E-2. First words oout of my mouth to the OOD and Flight Deck Control was "CALL THE CAPTAIN". HIS SHIP HIS CALL. Oh, the helo landed but with enough time we were able to shove it far enough to clear the "foul line" and had a "Green Deck" for the E-2. :::SIGH::: now I'm depressed.

I honestly can't think of anything more depending than being the captain of a ship.

That certainly is an excellent article.

Sorry for the ignorance as I am at best an amateur sailor - but in those conditions why should one now really care what odd things the commercial ship did? Ours is supposed to be, far and away, the finest navy ever. So, is there any simple and sensible explanation/reason for why our warship could not avoid this bangup?

As an aside, what will be the likely consequences for the Capt. and top crew?

Read what I wrote above or better yet, the link to the article. Several possible causal factors.

MinnKota, cool, I have Auto pilot too

It would not be the first time the navy didn't quite think it through....lol
https://youtu.be/_VHXRYXzEVU

Bigwhoop: Bizarre course of the freighter leading up to the collision with U-turns, circles, stops, back-ups and numerous cousre changes!
WTF!
Still this collision should NEVER have happened.
Massive negligence on the parts of both ship commanders/pilots!
Thankfully more people were not killed.
Puzzling how this could even possibly have occurred but it DID!
Sad.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Pretty much what my boss said. You've got two independant watches onboard a ship. They BOTH fűucked up.

Something about too much partying at the last port...