200135 Why not Use the COLREGS?

 Own ship was southbound in the southern Red Sea and approaching Haycock Island. The Master and OOW were on the brige, we had 2 generators running, the wheel was manned and an extra lookout posted. Our course was 157T and we planned to alter at position 130 30'N 0220 35'E onto a course of 125T. This would leave SW Haycock about 2nm to port and High Island about 2.5 nm to starboard. It was a fine night and we could see the lights of a northbound ship about 20nm ahead on the port bow. There was nothing else of relevance nearby.

It looked as though we would meet the northbound ship soon after our course alteration point. She obviously thought the same and called on the VHF giving the correct positions of both of us and suggested that we should pass "green to green". Why?

I refused, saying that there was nothing wrong with the COLREGS and that I would keep to starboard and pass "port to port" in the conventional manner. The other ship seemed surprised but agreed and when we met, there was about one mile between us. She was over a mile from Haycock Island and we were about 2 miles from High Island. Everybody happy!!

Why then, when faced with an oncoming ship, is it the first reaction of the OOW (or Master) to reach for the VHF and try to engineer a muddle? He should have kept quiet, concentrated on taking bearings and followed the COLREGS. This situation is very commonplace.