This is what likely happened; The Crystal was on autopilot and the bridge crew was either not present or asleep when the two ships collided. Unaware that they struck another vessel,
the Crystal sailed on for another few minutes before realizing what had happened and turned around to investigate.

The real questions are how and why the bridge crew of the Fitzgeraled either failed to detect the Crystal and change course, or if they did detect it, why nothing was done was about it, or if a course correction was made, why it came too late.

Bigfoot and gnomes were wanted for questioning by the US Navy and Japanese Authorities.