200018 Overtaking - More Bully Boy Tactics

Overtaking - More Bully Boy Tactics
Report No. 200018

Last year I was on a 30,000 tonne product carrier when this incident took place. The vessel was a loaded tanker on a northerly course and having 3 miles clearance from the coast on my starboard. I was being overtaken by a cargo ship which seemed to be in ballast, from my port side.

That vessel was overtaking my vessel very slowly but her range kept on decreasing continuously till she came to 5 cables. I called her on VHF and asked her about her intentions. The OOW made it clear that he wanted to alter to starboard for his next course. I called again and informed him that he was dangerously closing on to me and in no way he could pass ahead of me for his alteration, and it would be more sensible to pass behind my stern.

In return he asked me to reduce my speed and let him pass ahead of me. It was ridiculous as I was stand on vessel and he had plenty of sea room to alter to port and pass behind me. But he didn't take any action and came up to 3 cables on my beam. The situation for me was extremely dangerous as I didn't have much room on my starboard and he was closing in on my port side. I then called the master and altered my course to starboard for full round turn. As I started swinging to starboard I had to continuously monitor that my stern was passing clear of that vessel as we were very close. Finally we passed behind her astern and she altered to starboard.

In open seas where no traffic control is present are we not supposed to follow the Collision Regulations? Is a ship a place to take chances ?

This report is linked to 200006