View Single Post
  #114 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2007
wooyarn wooyarn is offline
Speaker of the House

 
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Retired
Posts: 862

United_States    
Re: Watson threatens to ram Jap whalers.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Si modo View Post
Here's another variable to take into consideration with situations where Greenpeace is deliberately ramming another vessel: Vessels participation in fishing (irrelevant whether the hunt is mammalian or not) have the right of way over any vessel under power and any sailing vessel.

It looks like the Rainbow Warrior (or whatever Greenpeace vessel is doing the ramming) has no leg to stand on. 1. They are deliberately attempting to ram another vessel (that is not avoiding a collision, is it?) 2. They are ramming a fishing vessel.

Trying to apply the rules of the road to defend Greenpeace at sea is untenable.
I'm not trying to defend either one. If a ship is actively fishing they are required to display a certain light configuration at night and certain flags during the day. As for the video, it appears the the Greenpeace vessle was at fault, however with out knowing all the information it's hard to say exactly who is to blame

As for right of way, a sailing always has the right of way, based on the fact that they have limited manuvering ablity.
Reply With Quote