The Edge of a Needless Collision

Extract

Commandant L. Oudet in his contribution ‘Lessons from a Needless Collision’ (Journal, 20, 30) may not have gone so far as to suggest that at no time ought either Tenacious or Placid to have altered course or speed then obtaining. Yet from his account this is plainly the case, a fact for which there must be some technical explanation, although he does not fully disclose it, saying rather, ‘We have not sought to teach but only to stimulate thought among Masters and their shipowners.’ No doubt others are not excluded. His pars. 2 & 3 give the facts in summary and the statement concerning the verdicts of Tenacious that ‘at 1330 she finds the bearing is steady’ plus some muttering about even worse than steady at 1340. This summary he later on amplifies slightly as to the facts:

(1) in par. 16, ‘between 1344 and 1349 … Placid made no (careful) observation.’

(2) in par. 18, ‘Placid did not detect this alteration (by Tenacious at 1340, from 130° to 160°).’