Crossing the traffic lanes in Singapore straits can be a nightmare. One of the Masters I sailed with, best summed it up as ‘every crossing in Singapore st. is a near miss…and sometimes not’. Hanjin Ras Laffan (HRL) and Mount Apo (MA) experienced the ‘not’ moment in 2015, when MA's stbd. bow collided with HRL's stbd. quarter. The Singapore court decided 60-40 in favour of the give way vessel (HRL).
MA departed from anchorage with the intention to join the E-bound lane which required her to cross the W-bound lane. HRL was on a westward journey. MA entered the northern boundary of W-bound lane at C-5 mins at a 32 deg angle. At the same time there was a VHF conversation between the vessels. HRL suggested green to green passing (contrary to COLREGS) and MA agreed. So why was MA, the stand on vsl, more to blame?
Because - MA crossed at a shallow angle; did not reduce speed decisively to give effect to green to green passing; & failed to go astern 3 mins before collision. Less culpability was assigned to HRL for initiating the VHF conversation; minor alterations of course to port; & failure to make a stbd. turn to swing her stern away form MA’s bow.
As per the court - MA could have taken the safer option which was to go westwards and then U-turn into the E-bound lane.
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