Guess by now all here have heard about the USNS Rappahammock shooting at a fishing boat while located in the fifth fleet. Had to happen sooner or later out there. I’ve heard some inside dope , but nothing very detailed yet. Basically, seems they did everything right. You violate the security area and pay the price. I’d suppose the warnings were blasted over the 1mc, and I would further suppose some warning shots were fired. I did hear that he boat turned away, and then back at them… I do wish they would have been actual terrorist, but you can’t know all the details until after the fact. I know the captain personally, and he has always displayed a very level head. ( add to that the embarked security team did the shooting - lets hope they didn’t jump the gun)
Hmm, the fact that the story tells very little means of course the investigation continues. Will be interesting to read the entire report when complete.
The story I read on Maritime Executive said that “a” warning shot was fired. Hope no one gets hung out to dry over this.
The “pangas” or fishing skiffs, if you will, off Dubai come waaaaay too close to larger vessels of all types - not just MSC tankers, at high speeds.
I saw it myself in Feb during a week of sea trials when trying to maintain safe, steady headings on a large ship. COLREGS? What COLREGS?
And several of the pangas looked just like the one in the report photo — and they sure passed out of sight under my bow several times.
Looks like the fishermen took one last gamble and it was one too many. It is likely they never heard or saw the warnings, period.
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);74988]I know the captain personally, and he has always displayed a very level head. [/QUOTE]
This would, of course, be the guy known as the “Ninja Master”. Let’s let the facts sort out and find out what really happened, but if I had been asked what ship might have been more likely to have such an unjustified incident, I would have chosen the “Ninja Master”. Shame, because when I was Master of Rappahannock, it was the yacht of the MSC fleet.
We should indeed let the facts be known. No one can judge unless they were there to be sure. However, I really don’t understand your logic. What does the disputed fact that Rappahannock was the yacht of the msc fleet ( in your eyes) have to do with anything? I certainly hope you are not trying to say you were a better example of an Msc master. Really? Is this your train of thought?
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);75034]We should indeed let the facts be known.[/QUOTE]
Ok so what are the facts? And I don’t mean the ones the Navy released, I’m talking about the facts discussed in the MSC wardrooms like How long had he been master? How far into his hitch was he? Who comprises a “Navy Security Team” on an MSC ship? Does the security team need to have direct permission from the master to fire? etc
General facts: he’s been a master for near 20 years and is very experienced, has also served as port captain. The security teams are USN teams made of of various rates, USN MA’s etc, at times the security teams have been USMC, but not recently that I know of. Who has final authority to fire has been discussed many times over. Some masters ( cira when I was a master ) deemed they will be the final word, a stance in fact I took. I think these days the word is granted to the security det OIC ( officer in charge ) as he/ she sees fit. Bottom line is no one from back here can judge or even know all the facts. I’d be very Cautious to judge any response not being on the scene the master took to insure the safety of ship and crew . Sadly, we don’t know the facts and perhaps never will. Oh, we’ll get a story from the USN, but perhaps not the real on scene story. ( unless we have drinks and dinner with the master at some point), a conversation I would and will look forward to.
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);75096]General facts: he’s been a master for near 20 years and is very experienced, has also served as port captain. The security teams are USN teams made of of various rates, USN MA’s etc, at times the security teams have been USMC, but not recently that I know of. Who has final authority to fire has been discussed many times over. Some masters ( cira when I was a master ) deems they will be the final word. I think these days the word is granted to the security det OIC ( officer in charge ) as he/ she sees fit. Bottom line is no one from back here can judge or even know all the facts. I’d be very Cautious to judge any response not being on the scene the master took to insure the safety of ship and crew . Sadly, we don’t know the facts and perhaps never will. Oh, we’ll get a story from the USN, but perhaps not the real on scene story. ( unless we have drinks and dinner with the master at some point), a conversation I would and will look forward to.[/QUOTE]
EXCELLENT - You are spot on correct, Xmsccapt.