Why won't the Navy release the USS FITZGERALD's track?

[BK05]

@Kennebec_Captain

@Greg_Wright

I mean seriously, have you seen the latest reports where the Crystal Master said he signaled the Fitz with LIGHT!!! I call bullshit. No civilian does that unless all other systems have failed. He’s saying that because his VDR is not going to show any attempts to contact the Fitz…

The captain of the Crystal likely is referring to the hand-held “Daylight Signaling Lamp” which is required by SOLAS. It makes sense that the signal lamp would be the first choice in a close quarters situation with a non-AIS equipped vessel. From experience there’s a good chance that time spend trying to contact via VHF would be a waste of precious time.

It’s standard practice to use the Signal Lamp to warn fishing boats which likewise are sometimes not AIS equipped.

Navy is equipped with AIS, its up to the CO if and when he wants to transmit. But we always at least listen passively. With CO’s I’ve sailed with probably about 50% of the time we transmitted AIS, but when we do we don’t include information like next port of call, etc.

Also, its not hard to call up the warship on VHF. I had a CO once when I was a deck cadet break out a signaling lamp, but it was only after we had tried everything else AND we did it while there was still plenty of time for us to maneuver and avoid the contact ourselves.