More Navy Memories

Seagoing vessels like my Navy ship, a guided missile frigate, are regulated by specific rules of the road established in 1972. They are similar to the rules of the road for automobiles – which side should you pass on, who has the right of the way at a crossing, etc. All ships are supposed to follow these rules to prevent accidents and all ships normally do – except these guys:

This is an oil tanker. When we met one of these behemoths, which we often did, the rules went away. He always had the right of way mainly because he was too big to slow down or turn, so why try.