Comment by teedotem | Hacker News Reader

Comment by teedotem | Hacker News Reader

Reminds me of this urban legend story:

This is the transcript of a radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.

Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that's one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call

Copied from here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_and_naval_vessel_ur...

Not a bad lesson to keep in mind in life: sometimes you're a lighthouse that has to deal with a ship, which is frustrating. And sometimes you're the ship, and you should learn from those mistakes.

lol! Great urban legend, you're right. I remember hearing it back in the 90s!

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-obstinate-lighthouse/

great link! thanks

I don't know if it's fake, but I've heard this clip and the encounter is with Spain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkx0MxK-Yl4

Similarly dramatized in this video:

https://youtu.be/ajq8eag4Mvc

"...Helge Ingstad believed the vessel calling them to be one of the oncoming vessels they were tracking on radar. Assuming the tanker, slow moving and with its bright deck lights obscuring its navigation lights, to be part of the shore installation,...":

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNoMS_Helge_Ingstad_(F313)

It is funny, but isn’t it kind of a maritime rule or law that a smaller vessel always gives way to a larger one? So it makes sense they would say that really.

> isn’t it kind of a maritime rule or law that a smaller vessel always gives way to a larger one?

The more maneuverable vessel needs to give way.

No. According to international maritime law ships propelled by engines give way to ships under sail. There are no specific rules for sizes, so theoretically if a triple E class Maersk containership catches up to your dinghy powered by a 5 hp outboard it has to give way (because it approaches from behind).

That's mostly true but there are limited circumstances where there sailboat would be the give way vessel.

The Swedish rules I learned as a boy in a dingy included that leisure craft yield to commercial, regardless of propulsion.

I take my boating leisure so seriously that I pay myself for every trip. Now move.

Yep. As a boy in the UK, "Steam gives way to sail, but don't try it with the Isle of Wight ferry."

In a restricted channel that isn't the case. If you see a triple E coming at you and you're in a dinghy, it will be in a channel and you will want to skedaddle; even the bow wave could swamp you. Usually it will have escorting tugs to shoo you away. But I've been in a sailboat and had Coast Guard machine guns pointed at me and ordered to leave the SF shipping channel because an LNG tanker was a mile or two away.

OTOH, I've been yelled at by Red and White tour boats who were hugging the shore for current relief. That's all nice but I did have right of way and maintained it.

> I've been in a sailboat and had Coast Guard machine guns pointed at me and ordered to leave the SF shipping channel

Why on earth is American law enforcement so braindead macho?

Does anybody think this is acceptable?.... To do something so stupidly dangerous as pointing a gun at somebody? Why do you tolerate this?

Here in Blightly, I guarantee such behaviour would lead to prosecution of those involved. (And I wouldn't be surprised if the yacht crew first moon the ignorant coastguard whilst quoting COLREGS).

https://www.imo.org/en/About/Conventions/Pages/COLREG.aspx

COLREGS, Rule 9, Narrow Channels, (b) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

The CG was correct if a bit rude.

Depending on how far out, you might've still been under the inland rules.

Not that my pedantry changes anything - sailboat still comes below "vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver" and you gotta give way all the same.

Your comment reminded me of one of the funniest ads ever that involved the German coastguard:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gmOTpIVxji8

Reminds me of this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUEkOVdUjHc

Hey, I know this ain't Reddit - but gosh darn you folks make me proud! Both of those links were to the exact videos that I came to my mind as well, and in the same order. Thank you.

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