# Headon Collision in the Great Lakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269 "2020-07-14T01:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/1 "2020-07-14T01:52:34Z")
No word on injuries, but a darn fine video. [Here.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=90&v=CRvy0SR-Pr4&feature=emb_title) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/2 "2020-07-14T01:57:28Z")
Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! You started us at the 90 second mark of a 90 second video, Paul. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/3 "2020-07-14T02:26:13Z")
Really? I had I wanted to do such a thing I would not have known how. [Here is a full news story on the crash, with the video included.](https://gcaptain.com/head-on-collision-in-great-lakes-welland-canal-caught-on-camera/) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/4 "2020-07-14T02:45:34Z")
> “The pilots of both vessels were reportedly in contact with each other prior to the collision.” Bet that conversation stretched the Canadian meme of being unfailingly polite and apologetic. 😅 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/5 "2020-07-14T03:02:25Z")
That’ll buff out. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/6 "2020-07-14T03:11:39Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > > “The pilots of both vessels were reportedly in contact with each other prior to the collision.” > > Bet that conversation stretched the Canadian meme of being unfailingly polite and apologetic. 😅 The word “hoser” might possibly have come up. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/7 "2020-07-14T03:24:22Z")
I assume that you watched the video and then clicked the SHARE button and somehow also clicked the START AT box before copying the link. No biggie; it threw me for a few seconds because clicking SKIP AD just ended the video. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/8 "2020-07-14T11:31:34Z")
According to one comment on the Youtube video, the crash was intentional. Nothing yet mentioned in the mainstream media about this possibility. “The black ship suffered a steering failure and was going to charge into the lock system and cause huge amounts of damage. They instructed the red ship to hit and push the black ship into the shore line to make it stop safely. The damage to the ships would be much cheaper and easier to fix then the entire lock system being damaged and out of order for many boats since it a huge shipping channel.” Black ships matter! Black coal matters! The black boxes matter! ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/9 "2020-07-14T11:42:28Z")
Alanis got into a head-on collision in Canada? That’s ironic. Like rain on your wedding day. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/10 "2020-07-14T12:58:11Z")
I read “Headon” in the title, and my immediate, involuntary first thought was: “Apply directly to forehead.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/11 "2020-07-14T13:16:09Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > According to one comment on the Youtube video, the crash was intentional. Nothing yet mentioned in the mainstream media about this possibility. > > “The black ship suffered a steering failure and was going to charge into the lock system and cause huge amounts of damage. They instructed the red ship to hit and push the black ship into the shore line to make it stop safely. The damage to the ships would be much cheaper and easier to fix then the entire lock system being damaged and out of order for many boats since it a huge shipping channel.” I was wondering why two people were out shooting video of these ships as they passed each other, and just happened to catch the collision. If they were told in advance, that would explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/12 "2020-07-14T13:26:15Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > According to one comment on the Youtube video, the crash was intentional. Nothing yet mentioned in the mainstream media about this possibility. The reports online seem to suggest mechanical failure or maneuvering issue, but no suggestion that it’s intentional. Also, it happened in an area favored for passing because there’s lots of room, so hitting locks seems pretty unlikely. > **[Officials investigating after 'rare' collision between ships in Welland Canal...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/welland-canal-collision-1.5646798)** > > Officials are investigating how two cargo vessels came to collide in Ontario's Welland Canal on Saturday during what should have been a routine manoeuvre. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/13 "2020-07-14T14:12:03Z")
I think the red boat won. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/14 "2020-07-14T14:12:11Z")
You go right and I’ll go left, eh? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/15 "2020-07-14T14:50:51Z")
Stupid Flanders! ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/16 "2020-07-14T15:13:05Z")
Couldn’t quite tell from the video, but it looked like the _Florence Spirit_, the black ship, was attempting to deflect to port as she hit the _Alanis_. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/17 "2020-07-14T16:24:33Z")
When no one backs down on a game of chicken. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/18 "2020-07-14T17:42:01Z")
The Florence Spirit also had existing damage (paint scrape?) on her port side just aft of the bow.Maybe she had already bounced off something else. And if that area is considered wide, narrow must be really narrow. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/19 "2020-07-14T17:48:48Z")
“You gotta lotta ‘_splainin_’ to do, Captain Lucy…!” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269/20 "2020-07-14T23:14:53Z")
Looking at the large scrape down the left flank of the black ship before the collision I think that Captain still is learning how to drive in confined spaces like harbors, docks, and now, canals. Oops. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headon-collision-in-the-great-lakes/915269.md?page=2)