Tink
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2017
- Messages
- 68
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Tinker Belle
- Vessel Make
- 1973 Gulfstar 43 Trawler
Overheard an interesting exchange between a ship captain and a pleasure boat captain as we were exiting the Gulfport ship canal and entering the Intracoastal waterway headed east. We had been in the ICW about 20 minutes (out of the ship canal) when we noticed another pleasure craft on our radar about 5 miles behind us heading our way at a good rate of speed. I’m relaying this to remind folks not to put themselves in a bad place. This exchange occurred July 5, 2017.
We heard following exchange on the radio: “Pleasure boat headed eastbound on ICW coming up on the ship canal, this is the freighter inbound in Gulfport ship canal, do you read?” No answer. I thought he might have been talking to me but surely not! I was headed east but long past the ship canal and my AIS was on so he could have called me by name. Again : “Pleasure boat headed eastbound on ICW coming up on the ship canal this is freighter inbound in Gulfport ship canal, do you read?” Finally, “This is pleasure boat, what can I do for you, captain?” Ship captain says “Skipper, I need to know your intentions for crossing the ship canal”. Pleasure boat “I plan to beat you to the intersection and cross your bow”. Long pause, then ship captain says “Good luck with that skipper. My instrumentation says we will collide if we continue at our current speed. My boat is over 900 feet long and I’m currently traveling at 16 knots. It’s never a good idea to cross in front of a ship like you are planning. I cannot stop so if something were to happen to one of your engines or something happens to your drive train, there would be nothing I could do except to call the coast guard and have them pick up the bodies and pieces of your boat that are still floating. Just wanted to let you know”. Longer pause, then pleasure boat says “I’m slowing down and plan to pass you at your stearn”. Ship captain says “Good choice skipper”.
We heard following exchange on the radio: “Pleasure boat headed eastbound on ICW coming up on the ship canal, this is the freighter inbound in Gulfport ship canal, do you read?” No answer. I thought he might have been talking to me but surely not! I was headed east but long past the ship canal and my AIS was on so he could have called me by name. Again : “Pleasure boat headed eastbound on ICW coming up on the ship canal this is freighter inbound in Gulfport ship canal, do you read?” Finally, “This is pleasure boat, what can I do for you, captain?” Ship captain says “Skipper, I need to know your intentions for crossing the ship canal”. Pleasure boat “I plan to beat you to the intersection and cross your bow”. Long pause, then ship captain says “Good luck with that skipper. My instrumentation says we will collide if we continue at our current speed. My boat is over 900 feet long and I’m currently traveling at 16 knots. It’s never a good idea to cross in front of a ship like you are planning. I cannot stop so if something were to happen to one of your engines or something happens to your drive train, there would be nothing I could do except to call the coast guard and have them pick up the bodies and pieces of your boat that are still floating. Just wanted to let you know”. Longer pause, then pleasure boat says “I’m slowing down and plan to pass you at your stearn”. Ship captain says “Good choice skipper”.