ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES. 1 4 5 - Reports of Cases Relating to Maritime Law : containin

K.B.]

Manchester Ship Canal Co. v. Directorof Public Prosecutions. [K.B.

o f th e s a id h a tc h se cu re ly u p o n it s ceasing t o be in use fo r th e passage o f goods, coa l o r o th e r m a te ria l. A n d fin a lly t h a t th e process o f u n lo a d in g h o ld N o . 6 w as n o t c o m p le te u n t il th e h a tc h o f h o ld N o . 6 o n th e s h e lte r d e ck o f th e s te a m s h ip was fen ced t o a h e ig h t o f 3 fe e t o r se cu re ly cove red . T h e c o n tra r y c o n te n tio n w as t h a t th e re g u la tio n s o n ly a p p lie d t o a person c a r r y in g o n a process d u r in g th e tim e t h a t th e process was b e in g c a rrie d on ; t h a t th e a p p e l

la n ts h a d ceased t o c a r r y o n a n y process w h e n th e y re m o v e d t h e ir ta c k le , a n d t h a t th e re was Uo o b lig a tio n u p o n th e m t o fence o r c o v e r th e h a tc h w a y ; a n d f in a lly , t h a t th e c o v e rin g o r fe n c in g o f ha tches is n o t a p a r t o f th e process o f u n lo a d in g as d e fin e d b y th e re g u la tio n s .

N o w in a p p ro a c h in g th e q u e s tio n w h e th e r th e C o u rt o f Q u a rte r Sessions in u p h o ld in g th e d e cisio n o f th e ju s tic e s , cam e t o a c o rre c t c o n c lu s io n , i t is a l i t t l e im p o r ta n t t o h a v e re g a rd t o th e h is to r y o f t h is m a tte r . B y sect. 79 o f th e F a c to r y a n d W o rk s h o p A c t 1901 : “ W h e re th e S e c re ta ry o f S ta te is s a tis fie d t h a t a n y m a n u fa c tu re , m a c h in e ry , p la n t, process, o r d e s c rip tio n o f m a n u a l la b o u r used in fa c to rie s o r w o rk s h o p s is dangerous o r in ju r io u s t o h e a lth , o r dangerous t o life o r lim b ” — he m a y c e r t if y t h a t m a n u fa c tu re , m a c h in e ry , p la n t, process, o r d e s c rip tio n o f m a n u a l la b o u r t o be dangerous, a n d he m a y m a k e re g u la tio n s . R e g u la tio n s Were, in fa c t, m ade, a n d in th e y e a r 1904 b y S ta tu to r y R u le s a n d O rders N o . 1617, a series o f re g u la tio n s cam e in to existe n ce in resp ect o f th e processes o f lo a d in g , u n lo a d in g , m o v in g a n d h a n d lin g goods in , o n , o r a t a n y d o c k — docks b e in g e x p re s s ly n a m e d in th e F a c to r y an d W o rk s h o p A c t i9 0 1 . Those re g u la tio n s , as exp erience p ro v e d , w e re in som e respects in s u ffic ie n t ; fo r e x a m p le , w h ile , in g e ne ral, i t ,s th e pu rpo se o f th e F a c to r y a n d W o rk s h o p A c ts t o p r o te c t th e life a n d lim b s , b o th o f Persons e m p lo y e d b y th e ow ne rs o f th e fa c to r y , a n d a ll persons w o r k in g in th e fa c to r y , a lth o u g h n o t so e m p lo y e d , these re g u la tio n s w e re d e scrib ed as re g u la tio n s f o r th e p ro te c tio n o f Persons e m p lo y e d in th e processes o r a n y o f th e m , a n d so f o r t h . W h e n one comes t o th e P a r tic u la r re g u la tio n , w h ic h in t h a t series is N ° . 19, a b o u t h a tc h w a y s , in t h a t case also experience p ro v e d t h a t f o r th e purposes o f th e A c t, th e re g u la tio n s w e re n o t c o m p le te . I n Owner v . C . J . K in g a n d Sons L im ite d D 6 A s p . M a r. L a w Cas. 1 0 7 ; 1922, 128

T . R e p . 307), i t w as h e ld t h a t th e w o rd s

° f reg. 1 9, re a d in c o n n e c tio n w it h th e o th e r Regulations h a d t o do o n ly w i t h a case w h e re th e re was m o re th a n one h a tc h w a y w it h in th e sphere o f th e a c tiv itie s o f th e person c a r r y in g th e w o r k o r o f h is em ployees. I n g iv in g Ju d g m e n t in t h a t case, i f I m a y re fe r t o m y

?Wn w o rd s , I said th is (see p . 309) : “ T h e Justices h a v e fo u n d in t h is case th e fa c ts , w h ic h

!, is n o t necessary fo r m e t o d w e ll u p o n , a n d h a t each e m p lo y e r is resp o n sib le o n ly fo r he p r o te c tio n o f tho se h a tc h w a y s u p o n w h ic h . e has been e m p lo y e d t o c a r r y o u t w o r k ; ln o th e r w o rd s , tho se h a tc h w a y s w h ic h h a v e I

Vo l. X V I I I . , N . S.

been o r are b e in g used, o r are t o be used b y th e p a r tic u la r persons e m p lo y e d b y h im o r b y h is agents u p o n th e c a r r y in g o u t o f th e process.” T h e n cam e th e de cisio n in H o w l e t t v . S h a w , S a v i l l , a n d A l b i o n C o m p a n y L i m i t e d (1924, 40 T im e s L . R e p . 778 ; 19 L lo y d ’ s L is t R e p . 176), t o w h ic h I need n o t m o re p a r tic u la r ly re fe r. B u t in consequence o f tho se decisions i t w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t n e w re g u la tio n s w e re m ade

— S. R . & 0 .1 9 2 5 . N o . 231. A n d i t was u n d e r these re g u la tio n s t h a t th e p ro s e c u tio n n o w in q u e s tio n w as la u n c h e d . T h e w o rd s lim it in g th e b e n e fit o f th e re g u la tio n s t o persons e m p lo y e d in th e processes w e re o m itte d . A n d th e w o rd s w h ic h I h a v e re fe rre d t o in m y ju d g m e n t in O w n e r v . C . J . K i n g a n d S o n s L i m i t e d ( s u p . ) fo r m th e basis o f th e p ro v is o t h a t has been c ite d . A n d th e s u b s ta n tiv e p ro v is io n o f th e re g u la tio n a n d th e p ro v is o w e re fo u n d e d u p o n th e a ssu m p

t io n t h a t n o one in th e case o f O w n e r v . C . J . K i n g a n d S o n s L i m i t e d ( s u p . ) h a d in a n y w a y a tte m p te d t o dis s e n t fr o m th e p ro p o s itio n t h a t a pe rson w h o is lo a d in g o r u n lo a d in g a t a h a tc h w a y m u s t lo o k a fte r t h a t h a tc h w a y . A c c o rd in g ly one fin d s on page 2 o f th e re g u la tio n s u n d e r th e h e ad o f “ D u tie s ” these w o rd s :

“ ( b ) I t s h a ll be th e d u t y o f th e o w n e r, m a s te r, o r o ffic e r in charge o f a s h ip t o c o m p ly w it h P a r t I I . o f these re g u la tio n s , (c) I t s h a ll be th e d u t y o f th e o w n e r o f m a c h in e ry o r p la n t used in th e processes, a n d in th e case o f m a c h in e ry o r p la n t c a rrie d o n b o a rd a s h ip n o t b e in g a s h ip re g is te re d in th e U n ite d K in g d o m , i t s h a ll also be th e d u t y o f th e m a s te r o f such s h ip , t o c o m p ly w it h P a r t I I I . o f these re g u la tio n s , ( d ) I t s h a ll be th e d u t y o f e v e ry pe rson w h o b y h im s e lf, h is agents o r w o rk m e n , c a rrie s o n th e processes, a n d o f a ll agents, w o rk m e n a n d persons e m p lo y e d b y h im in th e processes, t o c o m p ly w it h P a r t I V . o f these re g u la tio n s .” “ Processes ” are d e fin e d in th e re g u la tio n s as th e processes ab ove m e n tio n e d , o r a n y o f th e m , a n d th e processes ab ove m e n tio n e d are “ lo a d in g , u n lo a d in g , m o v in g a n d h a n d lin g goods in , on, o r a t a n y d o c k , w h a r f o r q u a y , & c . N o w stress was la id b y M r . L a n g to n in th e course o f h is a rg u m e n t u p o n th e use o f th e p re s e n t tense in th e w o rd s “ c a rrie s o n ,” in p a r. ( d ) o f

“ D u tie s ” ; a n d t h a t a rg u m e n t is, n o d o u b t, th e basis o f th e c o n te n tio n u rg e d , as th e case fin d s , b y th e a p p e lla n ts , t h a t th e re g u la tio n s a p p lie d o n ly t o a pe rson c a r r y in g on a process, d u r in g th e tim e w h e n th e process was b e in g c a rrie d o n b y h im . I c a n n o t ta k e t h a t v ie w o f these w o rd s . I n m y o p in io n these w o rd s in p a r. ( d ) “ w h o b y h im s e lf, h is ag en ts o r w o rk m e n , c a rrie s o n th e processes ” are m e re ly d e s c rip tiv e , w o rd s d e s ig n a tin g th e pe rson— t h a t is t o say th e pe rson w h o is engaged in th e o c c u p a tio n o f lo a d in g o r u n lo a d in g o r m o v in g o r h a n d lin g th e goods. T h e n comes th e p ro v is o :

“ P ro v id e d t h a t w h ile th e processes are b e in g c a rrie d o n , i t s h a ll be th e d u t y o f th e o w n e r, m a s te r o r o ffic e r in charge o f a s h ip t o c o m p ly w it h R e g u la tio n 34, so fa r as i t concerns th o se ha tches w h ic h are n o t in use a n d w h ic h d u r in g

K .B .] Manchester Ship Canal Co. v. Directorof Public Prosecutions. [K.B.

th e processes h a v e n o t been used a n d are n o t a b o u t t o be used fo r th e p u rpo se o f th e p r o cesses.” I n o th e r w o rd s , t h a t e n u m e ra tio n c lo s e ly fo llo w s th e e n u m e ra tio n ob serve d in th e ju d g m e n t in th e case o f O wner v . C. J . K in g a n d Sons L im ite d (su p .) d is tin g u is h in g th re e th in g s : ha tches n o t in use, ha tches w h ic h ha ve n o t been used, a n d h a tches w h ic h are n o t a b o u t t o be used ; a n d in th e p ro v is o , as in t h a t ju d g m e n t, a n e x c e p tio n is m o s t d e lib e ra te ly m ad e a b o u t ha tches t h a t h a v e been used. A n d i t is t o be ob serve d t h a t these w o rd s a p p e a r in th is p ro v is o , w h ic h places c e rta in d u tie s u p o n th e o w n e r, o r m a s te r o r o ffic e r. T h e s u b s ta n tiv e p a r t o f t h is p ro v is io n is t o describe th e d u t y o f th e pe rson w h o carries o u t th e p r o cesses, a n d I t h in k t h a t i t is q u ite o b v io u s , w h e n one lo o k s a t these w o rd s , side b y side w i t h th e cases w h ic h w e re de cid ed be tw ee n th e tim e o f th e pa ssing o f th e o ld re g u la tio n s a n d th e passing o f th e ne w , t h a t i t was in te n d e d t h a t th e p e rson d o in g th e u n lo a d in g s h o u ld have p la c e d u p o n h im th e re s p o n s ib ility as t o th e h a tc h w h ic h he was u s in g , a n d h a d used ; t h a t is t o say t h a t he m o s t observe, fo r e xa m p le reg. 34, a n d e x c e p tin g d u r in g m e a l tim e s , o r o th e r s h o rt in te r r u p tio n s , as th e t r im m in g o f ha tches n o t accessible t o persons e m p lo y e d , th e h a tc h cove rs m u s t be re p la c e d o n th e h a tches in th e p o s itio n in d ic a te d b y th e m a r k in g s . N o w i t is s tr o n g ly u rg e d t h a t th e re p la c in g o f such h a tch e s, o r th e c o v e rin g in o f ha tches w h ic h w e re in such a p o s itio n , a n d in such a c o n d itio n as t o re q u ire fe n c in g o r secure c o v e rin g , was n o p a r t o f th e w o r k o f u n lo a d in g ; a n d reference fo r t h a t p u rpo se w as m ad e t o th e case o f S tu a rt v . N ix o n a n d B ru ce (1901, 84 L . T . R e p . 65 ; (1901) A . C. 79). I t was s o u g h t w it h n o l i t t l e in g e n u ity a n d pe rsisten ce, t o d is tin g u is h in t h is re s p e c t th e w o r k o f lo a d in g fr o m th e w o r k o f u n lo a d in g . I t is q u ite o b v io u s t h a t , in th e circ u m s ta n c e s o f t h a t case a t a n y ra te , i t h a d been fo u n d t h a t th e ta s k o f c o v e rin g in w as a p a r t o f th e w o r k o f lo a d in g , n o tw ith s ta n d in g t h a t a t th e tim e w h e n th e o p e ra tio n o f c o v e rin g in bega n a ll th e cargo, as m ig h t be e x p ected , h a d a lre a d y been s tow e d in . B u t i t seems t o m e t h a t th e a tte m p t t o d is tin g u is h lo a d in g a n d u n lo a d in g f o r t h a t p a r tic u la r p u rp o se e n tir e ly fa ils , a n d th e m a tte r is m ade q u ite cle a r, as i t seems t o m e, b y w h a t w as said b y L o r d H a ls b u r y a t page 91 o f th e L a w R e p o rts , w h ic h I need n o t re p e a t. I t seems t o m e as o b v io u s ly tr u e o f th e process o f lo a d in g as i t is o f th e process o f u n lo a d in g t o say t h a t

“ c o v e rin g in ” is a n c illa r y t o th e m a in tr a n s a c tio n a n d is a p a r t o f th e w b r k , a n d a p a r t o f th e o p e ra tio n s f o r w h ic h th e L e g is la tu re c on

te m p la te d t h a t p r o te c tio n w as de sira ble . I n m y o p in io n , th e re fo re , u p o n th e tr u e c o n s tru c tio n o f these re g u la tio n s , esp ecially w h e n th e y are re g a rd e d in th e lig h t o f th e tw o a n te c e d e n t decisions t o w h ic h I h a v e re fe rre d , th e C o u rt o f Q u a rte r Sessions cam e t o a r ig h t c o n c lu s io n . T h e p re s e n t a p p e lla n ts w ere engaged in u n lo a d in g a t h o ld N o . 6, a n d w h e n th e y h a d ta k e n o u t a ll th e g ra in i t re m a in e d fo r

th e m t o see t h a t t h a t h a tc h c o v e rin g w as p u t in its p ro p e r place— w h e re i t o u g h t t o be ; in o th e r w o rd s , th e y w e re t o leave th e place safe f o r persons passing t o a n d fr o u p o n th e s h ip . I t seems t o m e t h a t t o a tte m p t t o d is tin g u is h be tw ee n 'th e tw o processes o f lo a d in g a n d u n lo a d in g so fa r as th e a n c illa r y o r fin a l op e ra t io n o f “ c o v e rin g in ” is concerned, is q u ite im p o s s ib le , a n d th e re is n o d is tin c tio n be tw een th e tw o . I t h in k , th e re fo re , t h a t th e c o n te n tio n s w h ic h w e re u rg e d b e fo re Q u a rte r Sessions o n th e p a r t o f th e re s p o n d e n t w e re r ig h t , a n d t h a t th e ju s tic e s cam e t o a r ig h t d e te rm in a tio n in p o in t o f la w in a c c e p tin g th e m .

I a b s ta in fr o m c r itic is in g th e p h ra s in g o f these re g u la tio n s te m p tin g as i t m ig h t be t o essay t h a t ta s k . K n o w in g s o m e th in g o f th e d iffic u ltie s u n d e r w h ic h these re g u la tio n s w ere b r o u g h t in to existence, I desire t o r e fr a in fro m unnecessary c ritic is m . A n d so fa r as these p a r tic u la r re g u la tio n s are concerned, w h ic h we ha ve h a d t o con sid er, w h a te v e r o b s c u r ity th e re m a y a p p e a r t o be in c o n s tru in g th e m , w h e n th e y are re g a rd e d s im p ly w it h in th e fo u r corn ers o f th e t e x t , t h a t o b s c u r ity is, I t h in k , re m o v e d w h e n one lo o k s b a c k a t th e h is to r y o f these re g u la tio n s a n d o f th e cases de cid ed u p o n th e m t o w h ic h o u r a tte n tio n has been d ire c te d b y th e A tto rn e y -G e n e ra l. F o r th e reasons I have g iv e n , I t h in k t h a t th e ap pe al fa ils a n d m u s t be dism issed.

Av o r y, J .— I a m o f th e same o p in io n . T he q u e s tio n ra is e d b y th is in fo r m a tio n was w h e th e r i t becam e th e d u t y o f th e a p p e lla n ts , th e M a n c h e s te r S h ip C a na l C o m p a n y , in th e c ir cum stances p ro v e d , e ith e r t o fence o r t o secure a n d c o v e r t h is h a tc h , w h ic h w as s itu a te a t th e

’tw e e n decks. T h a t depends, i t seems t o m e, u p o n w h e th e r th e y com e w it h in th e te rm s o f N o . 34 o f these re g u la tio n s . I f th e y com e w it h in reg . 34 th e n t h is d u t y appears t o m e to fo llo w fr o m th e d e fin itio n o f “ D u tie s ” u n d e r p a r. (d) o f these re g u la tio n s , b y w h ic h : “ I t s h a ll be th e d u t y o f e v e ry pe rson w h o b y h im s e lf, h is agents o r w o rk m e n , c a rrie s o n th e processes, a n d o f a ll agents, w o rk m e n a n d persons e m p lo y e d b y h im in th e processes, to c o m p ly w i t h P a r t I V . o f these re g u la tio n s .”

P a r t I V . in c lu d e s reg . N o . 34. T h e w h o le q u e s tio n , th e re fo re , resolves it s e lf in to th is : W e re th e a p p e lla n ts c a r r y in g o n th e process o f u n lo a d in g t h is s h ip ? I t has been con tend ed b e fo re us t h a t these w o rd s s h o u ld be c o n s tru e d as im p o s in g a d u t y o n ly u p o n th e m w h ile th e y are a c tiv e ly engaged in th e a c tu a l u n lo a d in g , a n d t h a t as soon as th e a c tu a l u n lo a d in g ¡s co n clu d e d , th e y cease to be persons w h o are c a r r y in g o n th e process. I n m y o p in io n t h a t is n o t th e p ro p e r c o n s tru c tio n , in v ie w o f th e h is to r y , a n d a ll th e circu m sta n ce s in w h ic h these re g u la tio n s cam e in to fo rce . I t h in k t h a t th e w o rd s “ carries o n th e processes ” m a y be p r o p e r ly p a ra p h ra s e d b y s a y in g t h a t th e person w h o in fa c t does th e lo a d in g o f th e ship»

a n d t h a t th e person w h o , in fa c t, does th e u n lo a d in g , is t o be lia b le fo r th e d u t y im posed

ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES.

1 4 7 Fiumana Societadi Navigazionev. Bungeand Co m p a n y Limited. [K.B.

K.B.]

b y reg . N o . 34. T h e re is n o q u e s tio n t h a t th e a p p e lla n ts w e re th e persons w h o , in fa c t, d id th e u n lo a d in g . I t h in k , th e re fo re , t h a t th e ju s tic e s w ere r ig h t .

Ta lb o t, J .— I a m o f th e same o p in io n . S pe a kin g fo r m y s e lf, I m u s t say t h a t lo o k in g a t these re g u la tio n s b y the m se lve s o n ly , i t is m o s t d iff ic u lt t o a s c e rta in w h a t th e tr u e answ er is t o th e q u e s tio n ra ise d in th is case. B u t lo o k in g a t th e tw o decisions o f S t u a r t v . N i x o n a n d B r u c e ( s u p . ) a n d O w n e r v . C . J . K i n g a n d S o n s L i m i t e d ( s u p . ) , t o w h ic h w e h a v e been re fe rre d , a n d m o re p a r tic u la r ly t o th e ju d g m e n t o f th e L o r d C h ie f J u s tic e in th e la s t-m e n tio n e d case, i t seems t o m e t h a t i f w e w e re t o in te rfe re w it h th is de cisio n o f Q u a rte r Sessions w e s h o u ld be in tr o d u c in g fre s h a n d unnecessary c o n fu s io n in to th e la w o n t h is m a tte r .

A p p e a l d is m is s e d . S o lic ito rs fo r th e a p p e lla n ts , G r u n d y , K e r s h a w , S a m s o n , a n d C o .

S o lic ito rs f o r th e re s p o n d e n t, T h e T r e a s u r y S o l i c i t o r .

M a r c h 6, 7, 10, 11 a n d 12, 1930.

(B e fo re Wr ig h t, J .)

Fiu m a n a So c ie ta d i Na v ig a z io n e v. Bung e a n d Co m pan y Lim it e d, ( a )

G e n e r a l a v e r a g e — C e n tro c o n c h a r t e r - p a r t y — F i r e

— S p o n t a n e o u s c o m b u s tio n i n b u n k e r s — C a r g o lo a d e d w h ile f i r e i n p r o g r e s s — C l a i m b y s h i p  o w n e r s f o r c o n t r ib u t io n—U n s e a w o r th in e s s— Y o r k - A n t w e r p R u le s 1924.

T h e p l a i n t i f f s w e r e th e o w n e r s o f th e s te a m s h ip A lb e r to F a s s in i u n d e r c h a r t e r to c a r r y c o a l f r o m C a r d i f f to th e P l a t e a n d th e r e lo a d a c a r g o o f g r a i n f o r A n t w e r p o r R o t t e r d a m . T h e v essel b u n k e r e d a t R o t t e r d a m w i t h s u f f ic ie n t c o a l to ta k e h e r o u t a n d b a c k to E u r o p e o r a t le a s t to th e I s l a n d s . O n a r r i v a l a t th e P l a t e sh e w a s d e t a in e d f o u r t e e n d a y s a t V i l l a C o n s t it u c ió n b e fo re sh e c o u ld g e t in t o h e r b e r th . A f t e r c o m  p l e t i n g th e d is c h a r g e o f th e o u t w a r d c a rg o sh e p r o c e e d e d to S a n t a F c h e r f i r s t l o a d in g p o r t . B y th e t i m e s h e a r r i v e d th e r e she h a d been a m o n t h i n th e P l a t e a n d th e b u n k e r c o a l h a d b e e n o n th e s h ip f o r a b o u t tw o a n d a h a l f m o n th s a n d h a d b e e n c a r r i e d th r o u g h th e t r o p ic s . W h i l e l o a d in g a t S a n t a F é th e c o a l w a s f o u n d to be o n f i r e i n th e u p p e r - b u n k e r s o n b o th s id e s . T h e f i r e w a s g o t u n d e r a f t e r s o m e d a y s , s o m e 200 to n s o f c o a l b e in g p u t o n d e c k i n th e p ro c e s s .

T h e v e s s e l th e n p r o c e e d e d to S a n N ic h o l a s h e r n e x t l o a d in g p o r t . O n th e w a y f i r e a g a i n b ro k e o u t i n th e b u n k e r s a n d c o n t in u e d , a lth o u g h th e l o a d in g h a d b e e n c o m p le te d , f o r s e v e r a l d a y s a n d w a s o n ly e x t in g u is h e d w i t h g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y . T h e s h ip o w n e r s c la i m e d a g e n e r a l a v e r a g e

(a) Reported b y R. A. Yu l e, Esq., Barrister-at-Law .

c o n t r ib u t io n f o r e x p e n s e s in c u r r e d i n d e a lin g w i t h th e f i r e s , r e l y i n g o n th e te r m s o f th e b i lls o f l a d i n g w h ic h e m b o d ie d th e Y o r k - A n t w e r p R u le s 1924. T h e d e fe n d a n ts a lle g e d t h a t th e s h i p w a s u n s e a w o r t h y a t th e t i m e o f th e lo a d in g o f t h e i r g r a i n a n d c o u n t e r c la im e d f o r the a m o u n t , i f a n y , th e y m ig h t be li a b le f o r i n g e n e r a l a v e r a g e .

H e l d , o n th e e v id e n c e t h a t th e re w a s a d e fe c t i n the c o a l a t th e d a te s o f l o a d in g w h ic h r e s u lte d i n f i r e s a n d t h a t th e s h i p w a s u n f i t to r e c e iv e c a rg o t i l l la b o u r , t i m e a n d m o n e y w e r e e x p e n d e d to m a k e h e r f i t f o r th e v o y a g e . S h e w a s th e r e fo re u n s e a w o r t h y , a n d th e p l a i n t i f f s ' c l a i m f a i l e d . H e l d , f u r t h e r , f o r r e a s o n s g i v e n i n T e m p u s

S h ip p in g C o m pa ny L im it e d v . L o u is D re y fu s a n d C o m pa ny (po st, p . 152); (1930) 1 K . B . 699, th e e x c e p tio n o f la t e n t d e fe c ts a n d R u l e D . o f the Y o r k - A n t w e r p R u le s o f 1924 w h ic h p r o v id e s t h a t a c l a i m i n g e n e r a l a v e r a g e is n o t to be b a r r e d b e c a u s e i t a ro s e b y d e f a u lt o f th e c a r r i e r , c o u ld n o t p r e v a i l o v e r th e a b s o lu te w a r r a n t y o f s e a w o r th in e s s .

Ac tio n t r ie d b e fo re W r ig h t) J . in th e C om m e rc ia l L is t.

M i l l e r , K .C . a n d H a r o l d S t r a n g e r f o r th e p la in tiffs .

S ir R o b e r t A s k e a n d F . M a r t i n V a u g h a n fo r th e de fe n d a n ts.

T h e fa c ts a n d a rg u m e n ts are f u l l y a p p a re n t fr o m h is L o r d s h ip ’ s considered ju d g m e n t.

M a r c h 12.—Wr ig h t, J . re a d th e fo llo w in g ju d g m e n t :

T h is is a c la im b y s h ip o w n e rs a g a in s t cargo ow ners f o r a g e ne ral average c o n tr ib u tio n . T h e p la in t if fs are th e ow ners o f a vessel c a lle d th e A lb e r t o F a s s i n i , o f 4560 to n s gross m e a sure m ent, a n d th e de fe n d a n ts are b i l l o f la d in g ho ld ers, indorsees o f t h e b i l l o f la d in g fr o m c e rta in s hipp ers, a n a llie d c o m p a n y re g is te re d in th e A rg e n tin e as B u n g e a n d B o rn e L im ita d a . These sh ip p e rs w e re c h a rte re rs o f th e vessel u n d e r a c h a r te r - p a r ty d a te d th e 1 1 th A u g . 1927, u n d e r w h ic h th e vessel th e n o n h e r w a y fr o m C a r d iff w i t h coals f o r V il la C o n s titu c ió n o r R o s a rio was t o lo a d a t a p o r t i n th e R iv e r P la te a cargo o f g r a in in c lu d in g m aize, to d e liv e r th e sam e a t A n tw e r p o r R o tte rd a m a t v a rio u s fre ig h ts d e p e n d in g o n th e p o r t o f lo a d in g . I need o n ly re fe r t o tw o clauses in th e c h a rte r- p a r ty . One is clause 31, w h ic h p ro v id e s t h a t

“ average, i f a n y , is p a y a b le a c c o rd in g to Y o r k - A n tw e r p ru le s , 1924.” T h e o th e r is th e e x c e p tio n clause, clause 29 : “ T h e stea m e r s h a ll n o t be lia b le f o r loss o r dam age occasioned b y th e a c t o f G od, b y q u a ra n tin e re s tric tio n s , b y p e rils o f th e sea ” a n d c e rta in o th e r p e rils o r a n y la te n t defects in h u ll, m a c h in e ry o r a p p u rte n ances, b y c o llis io n , s tra n d in g o r o th e r accidents a ris in g in th e n a v ig a tio n o f th e steam er, even w h e n occasioned b y th e negligence, d e fa u lt o r e rr o r o f ju d g m e n t o f th e p ilo t , m as te r, m a rin e rs o r o th e r se rva n ts o f t h e sh ip o w n e rs o r persons fo r w h o m t h e y m a y be resp on sible

K .B.] Fiumana Societa di Navigazione v. Bunge and Company Limited. [K.B.

( n o t re s u ltin g , h o w e v e r, i n a n y case fr o m w a n t o f due d ilig e n c e b y th e ow ners o f th e steam er, o r b y th e s h ip ’ s h u s b a n d o r m a n a g e r).” T h a t c h a rte r is th e w e ll- k n o w n “ C e n tro c o n ” fo rm .

T h e vessel b u n k e re d a t R o tte rd a m , w h ic h p o r t she le f t o n th e 3 0 th J u n e w it h 1618 to n s o f W e s tp h a lia n coal, w h ic h was u su a l coa l o f good r e p u ta tio n , a n d w h ic h w as s h ip p e d in th e u s u a l m ix tu r e o f screened a n d unscreened.

I re fe r t o th e 1440 to n s lo a d e d a t R o tte rd a m . T h e re h a d been a b o u t 117 to n s o n ly o n b o a rd b e fo re th e b u n k e r coa l was lo a d e d a t R o tt e r d a m , w h ic h h a d been p re v io u s ly s h ip p e d , b u t o f t h a t q u a n tity th e b u lk h a d been sh ip p e d s h o r tly b e fore a t H a m b u rg , a n d in th e e ve nts w h ic h h a p p e n e d I a tta c h n o im p o rta n c e t o th e s m a ll q u a n tity w h ic h I t h in k m u s t h a v e been used a n d disposed o f b e fo re a n y m a tte rs m a te r ia l t o t h is q u e s tio n arose. T h e carg o o f coa l w h ic h was s h ip p e d a t C a rd iff w as d e s tin e d to V illa C o n s titu c ió n , a n d th e b u n k e r coal, w h ic h h a d been s h ip p e d in th e la rg e q u a n titie s t h a t I h a v e in d ic a te d , was in te n d e d to ta k e th e vessel o u t t o th e P la te a n d b r in g h e r b a c k t o E u ro p e o r t o th e Is la n d s . S uch a p ra c tic e o f b u n k e rin g f o r th e ro u n d v o y a g e o r f o r th e p r in c ip a l p a r t o f th e ro u n d v o y a g e is c o m m o n in t h is tra d e . T h e vessel sa ile d fr o m C a rd iff e a rly in J u ly . She a r r iv e d in th e P la te o r B uenos A y re s on th e 1 2 th o r 1 3 th A u g . H e r b u n k e r coal s h ip p e d a t R o tte rd a m h a d been p a r t ly p u t in th e N o . 4 h o ld . T h a t h o ld was re q u ire d fo r carg o o n th e v o y a g e b a c k fr o m th e P la te , a n d a t B ue no s A y re s , o r s h o r tly a fte r le a v in g t h a t p o r t, t h a t c o a l was s h ifte d fr o m N o . 4 h o ld to th e b u n k e rs . T h e p e rm a n e n t b u n k e rs , a p a rt fr o m th e h o ld used as a cross b u n k e r, w ere id e n tic a l in a rra n g e m e n t o n each side w it h an im m a te r ia l e x c e p tio n . T h e lo w e r b u n k e rs w e n t u p t o th e ’ tw e e n decks fr o m th e t a n k to p . T h e y c o n tin u e d th r o u g h th e engine ro o m space a n d th e b o ile r space, b e in g recessed in th e b o ile r space. A b o v e th e m w e re th e u p p e r b u n k e rs o n th e b rid g e d e ck. T h e re was a coa l sh o o t t o th e b rid g e d e ck w it h a h a tc h o p e n in g o u t on th e w e a th e r de ck. T h e re w ere th re e ha tches o n th e b rid g e d e ck to th e lo w e r b u n k e rs o n each side, a n d th e re w as a s h o o t o n each side fo r p u t tin g c o a l in to th e lo w e r h o ld fr o m th e to p de ck. T h e h a tches in th e ’ tw e e n de ck o p e n in g in to th e lo w e r b u n k e rs w ere, so fa r as I fo llo w , g e n e ra lly le f t open so t h a t there, was a c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n th e c o a l ab o ve a n d th e c o a l b e lo w . T h e t o t a l c a p a c ity o f th e b u n k e rs was 530 to n s in a ll, a b o u t 350 in th e lo w e r b u n k e rs a n d a b o u t 280 to n s in th e u p p e r b u n k e rs .

T h e vessel, w h e n she was a t V illa C o n s titu c ió n a n d h a d d is c h a rg e d h e r carg o, h a d a b o u t 706 to n s o f c o a l le ft, som e o f w h ic h I suppose m u s t h a v e been o n d e ck o r in som e place o th e r th a n in th e p e rm a n e n t b u n k e rs . She was k e p t w a itin g in th e roads a t V illa C o n s titu c ió n exposed t o th e sun f o r fo u rte e n da ys be fore she c o u ld g e t in to h e r b e r th . T h e discha rge o f th e c o a l was fin is h e d o n S e p te m b e r 7 th . She th e n proceeded t o S a n ta F é, w h e re she a rriv e d ,

as h e r f ir s t lo a d in g p o r t, o n th e 1 0 th S ep t, a n ^ bega n t o lo a d . S ix h u n d re d to n s o f b u n k e rs w e re th e n le f t o n b o a rd . A t t h a t tim e she h a d been m o re th a n a m o n th in th e P la te , a n d th e coals h a d been o n th e s h ip since a b o u t J u n e 3 0 th a n d h a d been c a rrie d th r o u g h th e tro p ic s .

O n th e a fte rn o o n o f th e 1 4 th S ep t, fire was d isco ve re d in th e u p p e r b u n k e rs o n b o th sides.

A c c o rd in g t o th e lo g, w h ic h w as p u t in evidence, seve ral p la te s w ere h o t, some p a in t was f a llin g o ff o n th e u p p e r p o r tio n o n a lin e w it h th e

’tw e e n d e ck b u n k e rs . W a te r was used to e x tin g u is h th e fire , b u t w ith o u t e ffe c t. N e x t d a y w a te r was also used, a n d th e c o a l was s h ifte d fr o m th e b u n k e r to th e de ck, a w o o d b u lk h e a d a t th e a fte r e n d b e tw e e n th e b u n k e rs a n d th e d e c k h a v in g been re m o v e d . O n th e 1 6 th , w a te r was s t i l l b e in g p o u re d in to th e b u n k e rs , a n d th e fire was s p re a d in g fo rw a rd s . O n th e 1 7 th , s h iftin g o f th e c o a l w as s t i l l g o in g on, a n d a t 5 a .m . flam es w e re c o m in g o u t o f N o . 2 b u n k e r h a tc h . P le n ty o f w a te r, a c c o rd in g to th e lo g , was used, a n d th e fire was lo calised . I n th e e n d th e coa l w as a ll s h ifte d fr o m those b u n k e rs e x c e p t a b o u t 5 to n s o n each side.

W dokumencie Reports of Cases Relating to Maritime Law : containing all the decisions of the courts of law and equity in the United Kingdom, and selections from the more important decisions in the colonies and the United States, 1937 Vol. 18 (Stron 163-167)