200932 Colregs violation

Colregs violation
MARS Report 200932

Our container ship was on a course of 070°T, speed 13.5 knots, in clear visibility. Three vessels were in the vicinity and one vessel was observed by radar /ARPA and Ecdis as crossing target from our port bow, heading 138T with speed 15.5 knots, distance 17 nm, CPA 0.5 nm. This vessel was identified and verified by AIS and also displayed on the Ecdis.

The OOW called her on VHF Channel 16 when both vessels were about 8.5 nm apart but there was no response. When the OOW received a response to his second call at a distance of about 7.0 nm, and asked the other vessel about her intentions to resolve the developing close-quarter situation, their OOW informed us that he intended to alter course more to port side and pass us ahead with a closest point of approach (CPA) of not less than 1.5 nm. In view of this illogical manoeuvre in open, unrestricted waters, my OOW called me and I immediately went to the bridge and took the con.

I then reminded the other vessel's master that under the Colregs, it was his duty to keep clear as give-way vessel. He replied that he was unable to alter his course to starboard as this would take the vessel away from the planned track and consequently his ETA at destination (a nearby port) would be delayed. He suggested that my vessel should alter course to port in order to pass around his stern.

Given the rapidly developing close-quarter situation, I decided to turn my vessel 360 degrees to starboard to avoid collision. Soon afterwards, we received a call from the other vessel: the master said he had changed his mind and would now alter course to starboard and pass around our stern. We were instructed to maintain our course. However having already begun our turn, we advised the other vessel to keep her course and speed - she agreed and confirmed.