97035 Illogical Action

Illogical Action
India
Report No. 97035

Own vessel steering 1350T in position 80 31' N, 760 38' E when another vessel was sighted bearing 1400 at approximately 7 miles distance. The visibility was very good with hardly any wind, in short, perfect weather. I could clearly see the vessel's port bow so I altered course to starboard to avoid a close quarters situation which the ARPA predicted would be a CPA of one cable. I had just finished doing so when to my surprise the other vessel turned to port! I called her on the VHF and got an immediate reply. When I asked the Mate on duty (clearly an oriental with a good command of English) why he had altered course to port his reply was: "I sighted you on my port side and thought you might want to pass to port". I fail to see the logic of either his explanation or his actions. I suggested that he had got his licence free with a carton of OMO and he didn't deny it. Eventually he returned to starboard and we passed within a mile of each other.