Worrying Midnight Encounter

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-08-19 20:16:54
Contributors:
Countries: Greece, Malta

On the night of the 26th of July we were sailing across the Ionian Sea, the stretch between Greece and Malta. We were about 45 miles SSW of Schiza Island on the SW corner of Greece. Our course was SW due to wind, and we were sailing at about 3.5 kts.

A fair amount of traffic was on the horizon, mainly large commercial ships, but already 2 hours earlier we noticed one boat that displayed navigation lights of a vessel less than 50m at motor. It was travelling very slowly, and in the beginning we ignored it, as it was too far away to concern us.

As time drew on, it was now just past 11pm when the vessel seemed to be coming closer, I was seeing its starboard light, and it was on a course to cross our path. At about quarter to midnight it was getting to close for comfort where I decided to change my course to avoid any possibility of collision. They must have been about half a mile away at this time. My change of course was a 180deg tack, doing a total path revesal, both to get a better wind for more speed, as well as I was thus heading towards some commercial shipping on the horizon. After having done my turn I quickly noticed that he was turning as well, and I was now seeing his port light. He had turned to intercept my path again.

At this stage I raised all crew on board to get on deck. I attempted several times to make contact over the radio, but apart from the idiots making noises and fooling around, there was no answer. I also used a bright spot light to signal the boat, but still there was no reply. Apart from the navigation lights no other lights could be seen, and it was too dark to identify exactly what type of vessel it was, best guess is a fishing type vessel, not a motor launch or similar. The wheelhouse seemed forward, and on the after deck there seemed to be less buildup.

I then switched on our engine, and again turned 180 deg to resume our original path. With the engine we accelerated to 6 kts. They crossed our track behind us and settled on a parallel course to us, off our starboard stern. At the same time I tried to make contact with the authorities over the VHF. At first I could only raise the Port of Tripoli! In the end Olympic Radio replied and they connected me to the Greek RCC. I gave them full details of the situation of which they took note. The vessel in the meantime had settled on the parallel course some 4 miles to the north of us. I maintained watch on them via the Radar.

I did some other manoeuvres away from them, which at first they seemed to follow, but slowly they were drawing distance. Only after some 3 hours finally they disappeared over the horizon, and I have not seen them again since.

Now we can only speculate what they actually wanted, maybe they were supposed to rendezvous with another vessel for trafficking, or they had other intentions. But all in all it was a little unnerving. I did hear an American NATO vessel operating in the area, maybe some 200 miles away by the positions of the ships they were calling.

Tim Gorter, S/Y Jarrive

http://www.maritime.org.nz/jarrive/

I have just read the above report; to me it is exaggerated to define the story as a piracy attack attempt, there is no evidence of that. I have sailed for a long time in the area and I can say that there are a lot of fishing boats having unusual night lights and following strange paths while fishing. When they are towing deep fishing nets their speed is low, they change course to follow fishfinder indication or to put their stern in the most convenient position relative to the waves when they rise the net, and finally they increase their speed when moving from one fishing area to another one. For sure it is true that during the night the yachtsman has to foresee the worst situation in order to take the safest manouvers, but please do not raise the alarm when unecessary.

Roberto Regini, Italy