Maxprop wrote:
"Scotty" wrote in message
. ..
What I find really interesting is, that whenever a ROR, or
ColRegs question pops up, there's *always* an argument on
interpretation between the experts and ''Capts." here. To
hear the goings on here you would think there'd be a lot
more accidents than what there already is.

No, usually the professionals and those of us who have actually
studied the rules are in agreement.

It's the people who haven't read the rules or haven't learned what
they really mean that create the disagreements. Like Ellen claiming
she doesn't have to honor a RAM signal from a small vessel that she
doesn't think deserves it. Or Neal claiming no one can make him slow
down in the fog. And then there's always the kayakers who insist the
smaller boat always has ROW, or the "common sense" sailors that insist
that the boat that "needs" it more must have ROW.


Perhaps it's fortunate that the "experts" and "captains" herein aren't
actually doing commercial work on the water, Pete excepted.

Isn't Otn a harbor pilot?

They more I understand the rules, the more appreciation I have for the
masters of large ships and commercial ferries. They show an
impressive ability for anticipating how situations will evolve.

And I've learned that the helmsman of the sport fisherman headed at me
at 35 knots is probably digging a beer out of the fridge.


I don't have a Capt license, nor do I want one. I haven't
read all the rules and regs., and even if I did I wouldn't
remember 90% of them. When I sail I basically use common
sense and try to be safe.

Yup. I avoid commercial vessels like the plague. And I try to avoid
shipping lanes and channels whenever possible.

Several years ago a fishing tug disappeared on Lake Michigan on a clear,
calm, sunny day without a trace. It was almost a year before they located
the wreck. It had been crushed, and linear red paint streaks were all over
the boat. The investigation was relatively easy, and the red barge that ran
the tug down was located in Chicago, sporting damage to the bow and
underbelly. Charges were filed and the "captain" who skippered the tug
pushing the barge either faces trial for, or has been convicted of,
negligent homicide--I can't recall which.

There was a similar case here in 2001, the Russian tanker Virgo sunk
the Gloucester fishing vessel Starbound and continued on to
Newfoundland. It turned into a legal quagmire, and the Russian
crewmen who were on watch eventually returned to Russia. US courts
wanted to prosecute for involuntary manslaughter and negligence, but
its not clear they had standing.


Rather supports your theory stated in your first paragraph, Scoot.


I'm not sure what it shows at all. Are you claiming that tug masters
shouldn't learn the rules because then they would keep a better
lookout? Yeh, that makes sense.