When Seagate’s lookout first reported the presence of Timor Stream to the chief
officer, it was forward of the starboard beam. Timor Stream remained forward of
Seagate’s beam throughout, on a steady bearing of 187º and with a steady aspect,
until the two ships collided. The chief officer did not receive any indication that the
relative bearing of the other vessel was changing to support his assumption that
Timor Stream was overtaking. Had he given any thought to what was being reported
to him, it should have prompted him to consider that further assessment was
required.
If the chief officer had himself taken steps to verify the lookout’s reports, for example
by taking a series of compass bearings of the ship or plotting it using his radar’s
ARPA, he would have identified that Timor Stream was on a steady bearing. He
would then have had ample time to establish that his was the give-way vessel, and
been able to take appropriate action to avoid the collision.