The history of railroads has been dotted by numerous train v. train collisions. Railroads don't have exclusive license on collisions Ships have their share - even today with all the aids to navigation that have been created over the years.
Much like many railroad accidents - ship incidents have a point of no return that happens several minutes BEFORE the actual collision - the physics of mass, motion and momentum have locked in that the collision will happen no matter of ANY and ALL efforts of the crews involved with the vehicles.
