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On the current course of both vessels, the Mayweather would be boxed out of entering the channel, unless it hter’s bow to the east

Gauge read the captain’s thoughts “Looks like we should either hold position until they pass or duck into the western channel”

Posey nodded, his anger at the other vessel receding into concern for his own ship’s safety “Let’s steer clear of the idiot All slow and easy toward the west channel until he passes”

Gauge relayed the order to the helhts of Detroit

Posey shook his head as the black outline of the freighter drew closer, holding its aggressive course Due to the nature of the ay, the Duluth was heading directly for the Mayweather

Aoff the other ship’s bow, and Posey asked Gauge her speed

“She’s up to fourteen knots,” he said with tension in his voice

The two ships were now nearly perpendicular The freighter, closing fast, cleared the tip of Belle Isle and should have begun a turn to starboard But it didn’t

“Sir, she’s turning into us!”

There was no hiding the fear in Gauge’s voice Radar showed the freighter was veering sharply to port and meant to strike the tanker

“Hard right rudder!” Posey shouted “Engine full astern”

The helmsman yanked the rudder control hard over There was no tihter bore down on the 300-foot ship, its bow aimed square for the tanker’s midsection

Seconds frohter’s pilothouse erupted in a fireball Posey could only stare in wonder at the spectacle before bracing for collision

The freighter struck a halfway across the tanker’s deck before losing e, the crewht jar, but they heard the wicked screech of steel slicing through steel Only a few yards away, they saw and se

As alarm bells sounded, Posey ordered his second officer to assemble the crew The Mayweather had been dealt a mortal blow, nearly cut in two The captain already felt a severe list to port as he stepped onto the bridge wing to observe the dae