Sailing ALONG A Narrow Channel

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

On the same course and overtaking in open water, all other things being equal, I would always alter to starboard and leave the overtaken ship to my port.

In open water, it's pretty rare that you'd be going exactly the same direction as the other vessel - IME, you choose the side to pass based on whether you're going a little bit left or a little bit right of his course.

[El Pinguino]

In large slabs of ocean - and in any TSS - you will be going in the same direction as everyone else.... west coast of Africa to the Cape.... Persian Gulf to Singapore, Persian Gulf to Suez and on to Gib and up to Ushant ...all just plugging away along the same dotted line. Ditto coastwise in many places with the bulk of the tonnage just going from headland to headland.

However lots of places - North Sea and Irish Sea frisnstance - are a different kettle of fish with ships going everywhichway....

Given that 'overtaking' is from 2 points abaft this beam to 2 points abaft that beam in many cases you just alter to pass under their stern... regardless of whether you end up altering to port or starboard...

[Lodesman]

A TSS isn't exactly open ocean - sure you'll agree that the passing side in a lane is predicated on which side has the most room and/or what you negotiate with the vessel ahead. YMMV, but I stand by what I've experienced - then again the Navy doesn't usually follow the herd