This is an actual radio conversation between a United States Navy
aircraft carrier (U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln) and Canadian authorities off
the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. (The radio conversation was
released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10/10/95 as authorized by
the Freedom of Information Act.)
CANADIANS: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid
a collision.
AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North to
avoid a collision.
CANADIANS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to
the South to avoid a collision.
AMERICANS: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR
course.
CANADIANS: No,I say again, you divert YOUR course.
AMERICANS: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST
SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE
DESTOYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT
YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH...I SAY AGAIN...THAT'S ONE-FIVE
DEGREES NORTH...OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF THIS SHIP!
CANADIANS: We are a lighthouse. Your call.