this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2025
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Ocean-going sailor here. Some people might be surprised how often some people have trouble avoiding huge ships. These days, we have modern systems such as AIS, Doppler radar, proximity alarms, and all can be integrated into autopilot. Yet there are still so many stories of near-misses with tankers, freighters, and container ships.
They are going so much faster than they seem to be going. And they're YUGE
This is actually a very significant factor. The guideline is that an ocean freighter spotted on the horizon will be on you in five minutes (guideline, we know the math doesn't exactly check out). That doesn't leave a lot of margin for being away from the helm or distracted while on watch.
There's probably some simple trick they are missing. I never have any trouble getting hit by big ships, and I never even learned how to sail.
Step 1: don't go on the ocean.
Meanwhile, I'm a sky-going pilot and I've never had much of a problem avoiding airliners. We've got these really cool guys called air traffic controllers that help us out with that. I love those guys, they do a great job.
Yes but how just overlap is there between people who read books and have trouble a avoiding huge ships
My mind just played out a little skit.
in a library
Librarian is standing at the front desk, doing front desk things. A man enters, driipping wet, comic injuries such as a black eye, fake bandages etc, kelp draped around him. He walks in, looks at librarian meaningfully, stalks off into the library without a word. Stalks back up to the front desk, and presents this book and a library card.
if only the iceberg had this back in 1912
That book is hilariously expensive now. Check eBay or Amazon, $150+.