LCS USS Coronado Stops for Passing Whales

Posted on by March 15, 2014

lcswhalewatchLast Sunday was the second of two weekends of the Dana Point Festival of Whales, which celebrates the annual migration of gray whales which passes the coastal California community. Captain Todd Mansur of Dana Wharf  Whale Watching was following two gray whales, when he found himself and the whales in a crossing situation with the USS Coronado, a new Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).  Captain Mansur was able to contact the Navy ship and alert them to the whales off their bow.  The ship came to a complete stop and let the gray whales and the whale watchers pass.  The LCS is a radical trimaran ship design meant to operate in coastal water and is capable of cruising at 40 knots, with a top speed of 46 knots.  On Sunday, the USS Coronado was underway at only around three knots, so it had no trouble stopping to avoid the whales.

The grays whales were swimming north toward their summer Arctic feeding grounds after wintering in the Baja region of Mexico. The yearly 12,000 mile migration is among the longest of any mammal species.  Ships strikes are one of the leading causes of whale deaths. Fortunately, the close cooperation between whale watchers and the US Navy avoided a potential collision last Sunday.  Thanks to Irwin Bryan for contributing to the post.

Navy ship almost hits whales off OC coast

 

Comments

LCS USS Coronado Stops for Passing Whales — 5 Comments

  1. Checked out the link above. Media can certainly be hyperbolic,”almost slams into pod”. Thanks for a more reasonable portrayal. At three knots, I imagine the whales would have easily avoided being slammed into by what I imagine is a relatively shallow draft vessel.

  2. Mr. Cowan I totally agree. I was infuriated at this gross Media exaggeration which you quote and when I went to comment on it saw your comment. I completed concur and in addition the USN warship was the “giving way” vessel by the Rules of the Nautical Road so had to alter course or stop. At 3 knots it was clearly better seamanship just to stop – which she did.

    For any of you in the Media read this you would to well to choose words more carefully and respect the professionalism of mariners and airpersons. The reporting on CNN regarding the MH 370 missing flight has been two thirds absolute rubbish and very disrespectful.

    God Watch.

  3. It is a fair question why the officers of a naval vessel chose to set a course so close inshore during a whale festival, though they had every right to do so. Clearly the USS Coronado was being operated prudently and at a safe speed, so while it is an interesting story, it didn’t warrant the headlines about a “close call” or “near collision.” The media tends to prefer exaggerate even on their good days.

    (At least there were no reports of cannibal rats.)

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