Welp, I've been on the flightdeck in that area and other places with similar population of small ships trying to zip past larger ones.
Small boats like that one ignore warnings commonly. Aircraft carriers have the advantage of using heilos to perform airguard and commonly use them while entering a port area.
This smaller ship didnt have the luxury of having their airguard buzz the offending vessel.
Moreover, within 25 miles of land, it is illigal for the Navy to just up and shoot, so they were probably reluctant to fire warning shots.
There were a couple of things here that may not be apparent so Ill point them out.
1. They were warned. The Navy is big on communication, the fishers just weren't listening, like habibis normally do.
2. The habibis didn't want to wait for the ship to pass, so they sped up and tried to cut it off.
3. Their speeding up on an intercepting course made them look like a potential threat.
4. Being a war vessel, the supply ship took the ignored warnings and reckless driving of the fishers for what it was. Irrational.
5. The US Navy has an inherent right to defend itself while at sea and also has a policy to never change its course.
6. I have seen stupid ass fishermen like these cut so close to the front of my ship that I swore they were either going to blow themselves up to try and hurt us, or simply get run over by a carrier. I have been surprised to see them appear on the other side of the bow plenty of times. I have always belived that it shouldnt be tolerated.
A supply ship is one thing, but you cant mistake a carrier. Its big and has jets. There is no excuse for messing with a warship, these guys are trying to invent some, but none of it is passble when you realize that:
The Navy is quick to admit mistakes and wrongdoing and even is willing to hand sailors over to foreign authorities if they commit a crime in that country.
Habibis are known to be terrible drivers, erratic, impatient and reckless.
Bookmarks