93044 Near Miss Crossing PSC

Strange Manoeuvres
- East Australian Coast. Light Airs. VG visibility.
- Report No. 93044.

Own ship, course 314 degrees True, speed 11.2 knots. Target "x", bearing 223 degrees at 15.2 miles, course and speed ascertained by ARPA as 0030 at 15 knots. At 2000 I handed over the watch to the Third Mate and pointed out target "x", which I had been plotting for some time. I mentioned that the target's course and speed had been constant up till then, and if this continued to be the case, it should pass close astern of own vessel. Even without carrying out a plot, it should have been obvious to the target vessel what his obligations were.

At about 2050 I returned to the Bridge and the Third Mate reported that target "x" was standing on and would still pass close astern of us. At 2100 its bearing was 2170 at a range of 3.3 miles, its bearing was opening very slowly. We were maintaining the same course and speed, and the plot revealed that the target was still on a course of 0030 and speed 15 knots. I ordered the helm into manual and the Third Mate gave the signal indicating that we believed the target to be the giving way vessel. This signal was given again at about 2110, at about that time the target altered to PORT and appeared to steady on a course of 3140 parallel to own ship. He maintained this course for about 12 minutes, appearing to want to outrun us, and then, when about two and a half points forward of the beam, started a course alteration to STARBOARD as if to try and cut across our bows. I immediately ordered starboard helm and indicated my actions by giving one short blast. Starboard helm was maintained whilst a full turn was taken out of the vessel before resuming our original course of 3140. The actions of target "x" whilst we carried out a full turn are unclear, but it did appear visually that he had made an alteration to port before resuming his northerly heading.