A paragraph in the Action to Avoid Collision section of the navigation rules states that “Any action taken to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.” Otherwise, don’t dither.
The sooner that a positive action can be taken by the give-way vessel, the sooner that a situation where there is a collision risk is resolved safely and with minimal disruption. But sometimes people just can’t seem to help themselves. It could be radar hypnosis or wishful thinking that maybe I won’t have to alter my course.
A couple years ago I observed a good example of what can happen when there’s a failure to act quickly. The situation involved four vessels out in the deep, open Gulf of Mexico. The burdened vessel was northwesterly bound on a heading that put it on a cross-the-bow collision course with a westbound tug and tow. That tug and tow was in a meeting situation with an eastbound ATB, on a reciprocal course with over a mile of lateral separation that required no action. Finally, there was a southwesterly bound ship that was crossing fairly close astern of the westbound tug and tow. The northwesterly bound ship simply dithered, even though the radar picture clearly showed risk of collision. A call from the tug eventually prompted their positive action. But because they had waited so long to act, they were boxed in, with no obvious and easy solution to avoid collision or embarrassing the other vessels. Thus, the necessary positive action became a full circle. It should never have come to that.
A general rule of thumb that I preach to mates or trainees is this: If you’re the give-way vessel and you wait to the point where you have to resolve a situation with anything even remotely approaching an abaft-your-own-beam course change, then you’ve waited way too long.
Whenever it’s possible, take positive and early action. Rinse, repeat. Rinse, repeat.
