Comment Re:Why (Score 1) 397
The Law of Differential Masses says the larger ship gets right-of-way. The Law of the Sea, or more correctly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, says the more maneuverable vessel is the give-way vessel, but only when higher levels of responsibility aren't present.
An example of a higher level of responsibility? How about International Rule 8.f(iii), as defined by the US Coast Guard Rules of the Road: "A vessel, the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully obliged to comply with the rules of this part when the two vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision."
Or the Inland version of the same rule: "A vessel the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully obliged to comply with the Rules of Subpart B (Rules 4-19) when the two vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision."
Or the English vernacular version: "Fuck all if you have right-of-way, you still have responsibility to avoid going bump." Which means even if the destroyer's driver was an ass-hat and was 99% in the wrong, if the merchant was making way under her own power then she cannot avoid her own responsibility.