While on watch one day from the San Blas Islands in Panama to Jamaica, I had a funny radio conversation with a tanker that I think will amuse all of you.  Before I recount the story, there are some things you should know:

First – AIS.  AIS, or Automatic Identification System, is an electronic system we have on the boat that shows us all other vessels (who also have AIS) in an 80 to 150+ mile radius of our boat (sometimes further when we rise up on particularly large waves).  When you select an individual vessel (AIS target on our chart plotter screen) it will show – among other things – the vessel’s name, destination, boat speed and heading, when the closest point of contact will occur (CPA) and when that contact will occur (TCPA – Time to CPA).  Before we had AIS, we had to rely solely on our radar (and our eyes).  The radar is accurate but not detailed and just shows us blips on a screen and a vessel’s vector approximation. That’s it.  Most commercial vessels have AIS (cargo ships, tankers, etc.) so it becomes much easier to see and avoid them when on the high seas.  And of course much easier for them to see us since we too are transmitting our positional data to their AIS system.  In short, it’s AWESOME.

Next, the VHF radio.  The VHF radio is a “line of sight” communication device that allows us to talk with vessels within about 12 to 20 miles.  All vessels are supposed to monitor channel 16 while underway and respond to other vessels hailing them.  I’ve hailed dozens of vessels coming down the coast of California, Mexico, Central America and Panama when it looked like they were going to get too close to us. If a vessel was coming within 2 miles or less from us (especially at night), I’d get “on the horn” with them. Down the Pacific Coast, I would hail them in Spanish and make sure they could see us.  More often than not, they would offer to alter course.  But would always confirm they see us and how they planned to pass us.  Technically, since we are a sailing vessel we have “right of way” but considering their size they win! We are happy to yield our right of way.

OK – so here is the story:

It’s about 2pm and I see that there is a 450-foot tanker that is headed straight for us.  Our CPA will be zero feet.  I believe that’s what’s called a collision course!  TCPA is 45 minutes.  I get on the radio and hail the vessel:

Benevento: “Vessel Maemi.  Vessel Maemi.  This is sailing vessel Benevento.  Do you copy?  Over.”  (I hail them in Spanish and English just to be safe).

No answer

Benevento:  “Tanker Maemi.  Tanker Maemi.  This is sailing vessel Benevento. Do you copy?  Over.”

Maemi:  “Is someone hailing Maemi?”

Benevento: “Yes, Maemi.  This is Benevento.  We are a sailing vessel and our CPA is zero with a TCPA of 45 minutes.  We have limited maneuverability as a sailing vessel.  What are your intentions for passing us?”

Maemi:  “One moment.”

15-second pause

Maemi:  “What is your position please?

Benevento: (gives coordinates)

Maemi:  “What is your position again?
Benevento: (gives coordinates)

Maemi: “Ok, yes. Now I see you.  I will pass your bow.”

Benevento: “Thank you for that Maemi.  Benevento standing by on 16.”

60 seconds later

Maemi: “Benevento. Benevento.  This is Maemi.”

Benevento: “This is Benevento”

Maemi: “Please switch to 14.”

Benevento: “Switching to 14.”

Maemi: “We will be passing to your stern, not your bow.  We will pass port to port.  Understand this is for safety reasons.”

Benevento: “Yes, thank you Maemi.  We will watch for you to our port side.”

Let me pause here and explain that for “safety reasons” it would have been better if Mami had passed our bow. We were going North and the wind was coming from the Northeast.  Therefore, we are being pushed West (toward our left, or port side.) and can’t point any higher.  We would have to tack to clear them if things got too close, but better to fall off from the wind if they weren’t passing over our bow.  Not a problem, but it is blowing hard, waves our big and the sails are nicely trimmed.  He obviously doesn’t understand this and it becomes clear shortly. But we have enough room with his course change (we can see it on our AIS screen as we are speaking).

Maemi: “Benevento this is Maemi.”

Benevento: “This is Benevento.”

Maemi: “I’ve changed course, but you are still getting closer to us. Are you changing your heading?”

Benevento: “Negative.  We are a sailing vessel so if the wind shifts then our course will alter as well.  We are using the wind. Over.”

Maemi: “Ooooh.  I see.  You are using the wind. The wind. A sailing vessel.”

Benevento: “Looks like our closest point of contact will be more than a mile so we’re OK.”

Maemi: “Yes.  OK.  The wind.  I will watch for you.”

Benevento: “Thank you.  Benevento standing by on 16.”

We note that Maemi changes its course even more.  A lot more.  We now have loads of sea room.  We wave as they pass by but they are too far away to see us.

I think this guy was amazed that there are still vessels out on the high seas still using wind to travel by!

 

PS – The photo of this tanker was actually taken in La Paz.  We are about 1/4 of a mile a way.  As you can see they are just massive..