To answer the question as stated:
NOBODY
If you ask the question "In a crossing situation, which vessel must stand on and which must give way?"
The answer is the vessel which approaches from the starboard side is the stand on vessel.
The reason that neither vessel has the "right of way" is to avoid collisions.
Unless there is certainty that no possibility of collision exists, the captain of each vessel must take action to avoid a collision.
It starts with the "stand on / give way" rules but it does not end there.
In the case cited above the vessel coming from the starboard side was supposed to stand on.
The vessel towing the skier was supposed to give way.
If they had collided, both would have responsibility,
|