Being right does not help the dead

When Helen Fretter shared for Yachting World how a Class40 was smashed in half during a race by a cargo ship, it triggered this response by Peter Kelly of Fareham, England:

What an extraordinary story of incompetence and arrogance, and an even more incomprehensible response from those involved. Appalling seamanship has been demonstrated by all concerned.

The actions of the charge ship Master are taken away unforgivable, especially their blatant disregard (at several levels) for human life. Aside from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPC), they need to remind themselves of the most fundamental tenet of seamanship passed through generations of seafarers and codified by the SOLAS regulations in which:

“The master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance, on receiving information from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance….”

To continue on their way, knowing (or even suspect) that a collision had occurred, leaving seafarers in extreme jeopardy, is a complete disgrace. – Full report