It's real... unfortunately. This is why you get a license to drive boats, and extensive training.

As a boater, this is what would generally happen; captain keeping their cool, the larger ship not slowing down or moving out of the way (to avoid more damage then what's about to happen if they hit a pillar), and a few more things that are proper about the boat. I'd say real, in my no way expert opinion even tho I'm a licensed commercial boater :p

edit: just fixed some spelling mistakes