ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES. 167 - Reports of Cases Relating to Maritime Law : containing

Ct. of App.]

The Chatwood. [Ct. of App.

b y - la w w h ic h is fa r m o re in fa v o u r o f th e t u r n in g s h ip , a n d fa r h a rd e r o n th e u p - a n d d o w n -g o in g ships w h ic h are n e a r i t , th a n a n y b y - la w I h a v e e v e r seen. I t is fa r h a rd e r th a n T ham es b y - la w w h ic h im poses con sid erab le li a b i lit y o n th e t u r n in g s h ip its e lf. I n m y v ie w th is case la r g e ly fa lls t o be d e te rm in e d u p o n th e c o n s tru c tio n t h a t th e c o u r t p u ts u p o n a r t. 40, r . 3, o f th e S c h e ld t b y -la w s , a p p a r

e n t ly m ad e b y th e B e lg ia n G o v e rn m e n t, a n d a p p ly in g t o t h a t p a r t o f th e r iv e r w h ic h is in B e lg ia n t e r r it o r y .

Q ue stions h a v e been ra ise d be fo re us— a n d w ere ra is e d s t ill m o re in th e c o u r t b e lo w — as t o th e a p p lic a tio n a n d m e a n in g o f a r t . 40,

**• b w h ic h , as I rea d i t , is a b y - la w re g u la tin g th e re la tio n s b e tw e e n th e u p -g o in g a n d th e d o w n -c o m in g ships in c e rta in s itu a tio n s w h ic h are m e n tio n e d , w ith o u t re g a rd to o th e r ships in th e sense t h a t th e y are v e r y in d ir e c t ly concerned. I a m n o t s ta tin g th is as a n a u th o r ita tiv e d e fin itio n o f its m e a n in g , b u t i t a p p lie s t o cases w h e re y o u are n e a r a cliena l— w h a te v e r t h a t m a y be— o r a b rid g e , o r a s to p p in g place , w h ic h m a y be a je t t y , o r m a y be m e re ly a place w h e re steam ers t ie u p , o r a b e n d w h e re th e passage is so n a rro w t h a t th e re w o u ld be d a n g e r f o r b o th t o go in t o i t a t th e same tim e . T h e c o u r t b e lo w expressed a n o p in io n a b o u t th e a p p lic a tio n o f t h a t ru le . I n m y v ie w i t is n o t necessary t o de al w it h t h a t clause o f th e a r tic le in t h is case a t a ll, because th e d if f ic u lt y in th is case is— w h a t is th e p o s itio n w h e n , in a d d itio n t o th e d o w n c o m in g a n d th e u p -g o in g s h ip , th e re is a s h ip t u r n in g be tw e e n th e m . T h a t p a r tic u la r case seems t o h a v e been e x p re s s ly p ro v id e d fo r y ru le 3 a n d r u le 4. T h e re is n o need o in v e s tig a te w h a t w o u ld h a p p e n u n d e r ru le 1, because y o u h a v e g o t th e express case d e a lt w it h o f a t u r n in g s h ip in th e tw o f u r t h e r rules. T h e f ir s t o f tho se deals w it h th e case w h e n th e re is a tid e r u n n in g , a n d th e second w it h th e case w h e n th e re is n o t id e r u n n in g — w h ic h m u s t be a v e r y lim it e d tim e such as a t th e to p o r h ig h w a te r. D e a lin g w it h th e la s t case fir s t, a t th e v e r y lim it e d tim e w h e n th e re is n o tid e , w h a t th e r u le says is q u ite c le a r : th e u p -g o in g

° r d o w n -c o m in g ships h a v e t o kee p o u t o f th e w a y o f th e t u r n in g s h ip . T h e y m u s t, in case o f need, g iv e p la c e t o i t , a n d t h a t p u ts th e tu r n in g s h ip , o f course, in a m u c h b e tte r p o s itio n th a n

* *s m m o s t b y -la w s , a n d in m o s t riv e rs , w it h W hich I a m a c q u a in te d . W h e n th e re is no m e, ships c o m in g u p a n d g o in g d o w n m u s t

eep o u t o f th e w a y o f th e t u r n in g s h ip . ., bVhen y o u com e t o th e case w h e n th e re is a

lcle— w h ic h is th e m o re u s u a l case— y o u a n n o t d o i t in t h a t s im p le w a y , because th e hSP c o m in g w it h th e tid e w i l l be in g re a t r ffic u lty . I f i t tr ie s t o s to p it s e lf o v e r th e g ro u n d , i t w i l l lose s te e rin g w a y . I f i t goes n a rd -a -s ta rb o a rd u n t il i t is h o ld in g its w a y lo + r th e g ro u n d in s p ite o f th e t id e i t w i l l h a v e On V .°r com P a r a tiv e ly lo s t, c o n tro l o f its e lf, th e o th e r h a n d , th e s h ip c o m in g a g a in s t e t id e w i ll be ab le t o h o ld it s e lf u p o v e r th e

® ° Und b y th e use o f it s engines a g a in s t th e

fo rc e o f th e t id e t h a t is ru n n in g . So, in th e case w h e re th e re is a tid e , r u le 3 deals w it h th e tw o ships d iffe r e n tly . I t deals, f ir s t o f a ll, w it h th e t u r n in g s h ip — I a m u s in g th e w o rd

t u r n in g ” in th e F re n c h . W h a t th e D u tc h is I do n o t k n o w , a n d I s h o u ld n o t be a n y th e w is e r i f I d id k n o w . T h e F re n c h is v ir e r a n d v ire r— w h ic h lo o k s lik e o u r w o rd t o v e e r—

seems t o m e t o m ean tu r n in g o r s w in g in g . I t is suggested t h a t i t m a y m e a n “ he ave t o ” also. I t is p a r tic u la r ly a p p lic a b le t o th e case w h e re a s h ip c o m in g u p w it h th e t id e w a n ts t o g o in to a d o c k o n th e o th e r side o f th e r iv e r , a n d , as a p r e lim in a r y , sw ings ro u n d t o g e t its h e a d t o th e tid e . T h e s h ip t h a t proposes t o d o t h a t , w h ic h is w h a t th e A tla n d w as p r o  p o s in g t o do, m u s t g iv e n o tic e o f its in te n tio n t o ships à p ro x im ité . P ro x im ité , o f course, is a w o r d w h ic h has a p r e t t y w id e m e a n in g . Y o u h a v e som e d if f ic u lt y in k n o w in g w h e n a s h ip is à p ro x im ité , b u t w h e n a n o tic e has been g iv e n , th e vessel c o m in g a g a in s t th e t id e m u s t s to p its progress o v e r th e g ro u n d — arrê te r sa m arche p a r ra p p o rt a u fo n d — a n d th e vessel n a v ig a tin g w it h th e tid e m u s t lessen its speed u n t il th e s h ip w h ic h tu r n s n o lo n g e r pre sen ts a n y o b s ta c le “ a u passage." N o w w h e th e r “ a u passage ” m eans th e passage o f b o th ships, o r th e passage o f th e one s h ip in w hose w a te r th e t u r n in g s h ip is n o t, m a y be a tro u b le s o m e q u e s tio n .

B u t th e v ie w I ta k e o f th is case is t h a t i t is n o t d ire c te d t o th e m o m e n t w h e n th e ships g e t u p t o th e t u r n in g s h ip — w h e n th e u p -g o in g a n d d o w n -c o m in g ships g e t u p t o th e t u r n in g s h ip . I t is d ire c te d t o th e tim e w h e n th e y are c o m in g to w a rd s th e t u r n in g s h ip , a n d do n o t k n o w e x a c tly w h e re she w i ll be w h e n th e y g e t t o h e r. T h e y are t o ld , i t seems t o m e, b y th e express d ire c tio n — ju s t as th e y w e re t o ld in r u le 4— t o g iv e p la c e t o h e r in case o f need, a n d t h a t seems t o m e t o m e a n th is : y o u see a s h ip t u r n in g ahead o f y o u ; she occupies a c e rta in p a r t o f th e c h a n n e l, a n d y o u c a n n o t be sure w h a t ; y o u are some w a y fr o m h e r, a n d t o a v o id a n y r is k o f s p e c u la tin g w h e th e r she w i ll o r w i ll n o t be c le a r w h e n y o u g e t t o h e r, th e s h ip c o m in g a g a in s t th e t id e has to sto p h e rs e lf o v e r th e g ro u n d . T h e n she w i ll n o t g e t in to a n y tr o u b le . T h e s h ip w h ic h is c o m in g d o w n w it h th e t id e — w h ic h is in th e d if f ic u lt y o f s to p p in g h e rs e lf o v e r th e g ro u n d , is t o lessen h e r speed so as, as fa r as po ssib le, t o g iv e w a y t o th e tu r n in g s h ip . T h e m a te r ia l tim e seems t o be n o t w h e n y o u g e t th e re a n d say “ h a llo o , t h is is a ll r ig h t , I h a v e cha nce d i t a n d i t has com e o ff,” b u t b e fo re y o u g e t th e re a n d w h e n y o u d o n o t k n o w w h a t e x a c tly is h a p p e n in g , y o u are t o h o ld y o u rs e lf u p so t h a t th e re m a y n o t be a n y tr o u b le b y y o u r g e ttin g th e re a t th e w ro n g tim e . T h a t I ta k e t o be th e m e a n in g o f a r t . 40, r. 3. T h a t a p p lie s be fo re y o u g e t t o th e p la ce o f th e t u r n in g s h ip a n d is t o a v o id y o u r in te r fe r in g w it h th e t u r n in g s h ip w h e n y o u g e t th e re , a n d , o f course, in c id e n ta lly is t o save y o u fr o m b e in g in th e passage a t th e tim e w h e n th e o th e r s h ip , c o m in g th e o th e r w a y , is also in th e passage. E a c h s h ip is t o

1 6 8

Ct. of App.] The Chatwood. [Ct. of App.

kee p a w a y fr o m th e t u r n in g s h ip so t h a t th e w id t h o f th e c h a n n e l b e in g in te rfe re d w it h b y th e t u r n in g s h ip , y o u are n o t t o h a v e a n y d if f ic u lt y o f t w o ships t r y in g t o g e t th r o u g h th e sam e lim it e d c h a n n e l. T h a t is m y v ie w o f th e m e a n in g o f a r t . 40, r . 3.

I t is c o m m o n ground-— because one n o w com es t o see w h a t th e t w o ships d id — t h a t each o f th e m k n e w seven m in u te s b e fo re th e c o llis io n t h a t th e A tla n d was tu r n in g . T h e c o llis io n h a p p e n e d seven m in u te s a fte r th e y , e ith e r b y s ig n a l o r s ig h t, k n e w t h a t th e A tla n d was t u r n in g o ff th e K ru is s c h a n s D o c k .

W h a t d id th e y k n o w a b o u t th e A tla n d ? She was in fa c t a s h ip 3 8 0 ft. lo n g , a n d th e w id t h o f th e c h a n n e l th e re is a b o u t 1 1 0 0 ft.

T h e y d id n o t k n o w th e 3 8 0 ft., b u t th e y k n e w she was o v e r 3 0 0 ft., because th e y saw th e m a s th e a d lig h ts o n t w o m a s ts w h ic h w o u ld t e ll th e m she was o v e r 3 0 0 ft. lo n g . T h e y saw she h a d a tu g , a n d th e P re s id e n t fin d s , w it h th e a d v ic e o f th e E ld e r B re th re n , t h a t 30 fa th o m s o f t o w ro p e is a b o u t th e le n g th th e t u g w o u ld be h a v in g — th e re is 1 8 0 ft. m o re . T h e t u g a c c o rd in g t o th e P re s id e n t— w i t h th e assistance o f th e E ld e r B r e th re n — is a b o u t 7 0 ft. lo n g . I f y o u a d d th o s e th re e figu res to g e th e r, a n d i f f o r t h is tim e so t o speak th e t u g w as in a s tr a ig h t lin e w i t h th e A tla n d , y o u h a v e g o t 6 3 0 ft., c o n s id e ra b ly m o re th a n h a lf th e c h a n n e l. N o w , o f course i t is im p ro b a b le t h a t th e c o m b in e d lin e w i l l be 6 3 0 ft., because i f th e vessel is t u r n in g th e t u g w i ll be to w in g o n one b o w a n d y o u c a n n o t be sure o f th e a n gle. T h e an g le b e tw e e n th e tw o b e in g c o n s id e ra b le i t m a y be t h a t i t is m u c h less th a n 6 3 0 ft. A ls o y o u c a n n o t be sure o f th e e x a c t angle across th e r iv e r . Y o u w i l l fin d w h e n y o u g e t u p t o th is t u r n in g s h ip t h a t y o u c a n n o t be sure w h e re in th e r iv e r she w i l l be because i t is fo u n d , a n d acce pted , t h a t th e o r d in a r y w a y fo r a vessel o f t h a t s o rt, c o m in g u p t h a t w a y w i t h th e t id e t o t u r n , w o u ld b e to g e t o v e r t o th e east side o f th e r iv e r o u t o f h e r p ro p e r w a te r a n d th e n b e g in t o t u r n , th e t u g to w in g o n h e r s ta rb o a rd b o w , th e tu g , a t a c e rta in stage, h o ld in g h e r he ad , w h ile th e tid e sw ings h e r s te rn ro u n d .

T h a t w o u ld m ea n, as one w i l l see b y t h in k in g a b o u t i t , t h a t w h e n h e r he ad has g o t e ig h t p o in ts ro u n d , a n d she is r ig h t a t h w a r t th e r iv e r , h a lf h e r le n g th — 1 9 5 ft.— w o u ld h a v e sw u n g o u t to w a rd s th e ea s te rn side, p o s s ib ly in to th e w e s te rn side, b u t p o s s ib ly p a r t ly in t o th e east.

A t th e tim e o f th is a c tu a l c o llis io n she h a d s w u n g r o u n d tw e lv e p o in ts , a n d she w o u ld h a v e re d u c e d t h a t 1 9 0 ft. b y 9 5 ft. I t seems t o m e t h a t th e da ng erou s tim e — th e tim e th e y h a v e g o t t o t h in k a b o u t— is w h e n she has g o t t o th e e ig h t p o in ts , w h e n she is ta k in g u p m o s t o f th e r iv e r . O ne has t o b e a r in m in d — w h e n I say

“ one ” I m e a n th e t w o a p p ro a c h in g ships h a v e t o b e a r in m in d — t h a t t h e y c a n n o t be sure w h e n th e y see h e r t u r n w h e re she w i ll h a v e g o t t o w h e n th e y h a v e g o t t o h e r. H e r engines m a y , o r m a y n o t, be w o r k in g . I n th is case a th re e - b la s t s ig n a l w as h e a rd , s h o w in g she was g o in g a s te rn . W h e n I sa y “ g o in g a s te rn ,” i t m a y be

th e y w e re c h e c k in g h e r h e a d w a y , b u t she w a s u s in g h e r engines f o r th e p u rp o s e o f g o in g a s te rn a n d i t seems t o m e q u ite im p o s s ib le fo r a b o a t som e w a y o ff, k n o w in g t h a t th e s h ip is tu r n in g , t o be sure w h e re th e y w i l l fin d h e r w h e n th e y g o t t o th e p la c e w h e re she is . I n m y v ie w t h is r u le is n o t m e a n t t o a llo w th e m t o s p e c u la te a n d t o go o n a n d say, “ I t h in k she w i ll b e a ll r ig h t w h e n I g e t th e re , a n d so I w i l l go o n .” W h e n th e y f in d h e r ahead o f th e m so as t o b lo c k a c o n s id e ra b le p a r t o f th e c h a n n e l, th e y m u s t a c t th e n . T h e s h ip c o m in g a g a in s t th e t id e m u s t s to p t h e n ; th e s h ip c o m in g w i t h th e tid e m u s t d im in is h th e n , a n d n o t . . . say, “ yes, i t is q u ite tr u e I n e v e r s to p p e d a t a ll, b u t b y g o o d lu c k w h e n I g o t th e re th e re was ro o m fo r m e t o g e t th r o u g h .”

T h a t in m y v ie w is a b re a c h o f a r t . 40, r . 3 , th o u g h , lu c k ily , i t m ig h t e n d in n o dam age.

T h a t is m y v ie w o f w h a t y o u m u s t be p re p a re d fo r w h e n y o u h a v e a t u r n in g s h ip , w it h t h is a d d itio n , t h a t th e re is n o th in g r e q u irin g th e t u r n in g s h ip t o s to p w h e n she is s tr a ig h t a n d n o t go in t o d o c k . She is t u r n in g f o r th e p u rp o s e o f g o in g in to d o c k , a n d i t m a y be w h e n y o u g e t th e re y o u w i l l f in d h e r c o m in g across in to th e d o c k , a n d y o u m u s t ta k e t h a t in to a c c o u n t as p a r t o f th e t u r n w h ic h y o u m a y fin d w h e n y o u g e t u p . So m u c h fo r th e ru le , a n d so m u c h fo r w h a t th e . vessel t h a t gets n o tic e o f th e t u r n in g s h ip m a y h a v e t o e x p e c t o r t o con sid er.

N o w , w h a t d id th e t w o b o a ts d o w h e n th e y g o t e ith e r t o h e a r th e t u r n in g s ig n a l o r a s ig h t o f th e t u r n in g s h ip ? I say t h a t because th e m a s te r o f th e B rug es says t h a t he n e v e r h e a rd th e t u r n in g s ig n a l, b u t he d id see th e t u r n in g s h ip . T h e p i lo t o f th e B rug es says t h a t he d id h e a r th e t u r n in g s ig n a l. N o w , w h a t d id th e y do ? T h e B rug es seven m in u te s be fore th e a c tu a l c o llis io n , as w e k n o w n o w , w e n t f u l l speed ahea d a t fo u rte e n k n o ts fo r s ix m in u te s a b o u t. I sa y “ a b o u t,” because th e tim e s are ta k e n t o h a lf a m in u te , a n d th e y m a y be b e tw e e n th e m in u te a n d th e h a lf m in u te , a n d I say “ a b o u t ” th e re fo re a m in u te . F o r s ix m in u te s she w e n t f u ll speed ah e a d a t fo u r te e n k n o ts . She h a d seen t h a t th e re was a b o a t c o m in g u p th e r iv e r w it h th e tid e , b e h in d th e A tla n d , so she k n e w t h a t th e re m ig h t be d a n g e r o f a n o th e r b o a t, a b o a t t h a t h a d o n ly t o d im in is h speed a n d n o t t o s to p o v e r th e g ro u n d . F o r s ix m in u te s she w e n t o n a t f u ll speed, fo u rte e n k n o ts , t i l l a b o u t a m in u te before th e c o llis io n . T h e re was a d iffe re n c e o f o p in io n b e tw e e n th e m a s te r a n d th e p ilo t as t o w h a t s h o u ld be done. T h e p ilo t was g o in g t o say

“ h a lf speed.” T h e m a s te r said, “ N o , slow . She d id n o t s to p a n d she w e n t o n a t s lo w t u j ju s t b e fo re th e c o llis io n , a n d she o n ly stop ped a n d re ve rse d w it h in h a lf a m in u te b e fo re th e c o llis io n , a n d she is fo u n d t o h a v e som e th re e o r fo u r k n o ts h e a d w a y . She w e n t

som e da m age— n o t so m u c h as is th e Chatwood’s witnesses— t o a v e r y lo o k in g d o lp h in w h ic h w as ahea d o f h e r.

N o w , does t h a t c o m p ly w it h th e ru le t h a e v e ry vessel n e a r, g o in g a g a in s t th e tid e , sha

o n a n a a lleg ed b y s u b s ta n tia l

ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES.

1 6 9 Or. of App.] The Chatwood. [Ct. of App.

s to p h e r w a y o v e r th e g ro u n d ? I t seems to m e p r e t t y c le a r i t does n o t. She h a d so re g u la te d h e r speed t h a t she is a r r iv in g a t th e p la ce o f c o llis io n close t o th e tu r n in g s h ip . She has n o t s to p p e d a t a ll t i l l th e Chatwood, c o m in g d o w n , is v e r y n e a rly in to h e r. N o w , w h y d id th e c a p ta in o f th e B ruges do t h a t ? H e expresses h is v ie w s o n th e s u b je c t a t q u e s tio n 592 a n d o n w a rds : “ W as th e re a n y th in g t o p re v e n t y o u fr o m w a itin g ab ove th e place o f c o llis io n ? A . N o th in g t o p re v e n t m e. 593 : Q. Y o u h a v e t w in screws ? A . Y es.

594. Q . A n d y o u c o u ld h a v e k e p t h e r u n d e r c o m p le te c o n tro l ? A . Y es. 595 : Q. A n d c o u ld h a v e b r o u g h t y o u rs e lf u p , a c c o rd in g to y o u , w it h in a v e r y s h o rt d is ta n c e i f y o u h a d been so m in d e d ? A . Y es. 596 : Q . B u t y o u w ere d e te rm in e d to go o n a n d pass th r o u g h th e gap ? A . I h a d m y passage to m a k e — m a ils a n d passenger tra in s t o c a tc h . 597 : Q . A n d y o u w a n te d t o m a k e th e b e s t passage y o u c o u ld w it h y o u r m a ils a n d w it h y o u r passengers ? A . Y e s . 598 : Q . A n d y o u h a d a fa s t s h ip ? A . Y e s .” H e c o n tin u e s o n th e n e x t page. M r.

D u n lo p is s u g ge sting t o h im t h a t i f he h a d w a ite d b y s lo w in g sooner th is c o llis io n w o u ld n o t h a v e h a p p en ed— th e Chatwood w o u ld n o t h a v e c o llid e d w it h th e Bruges. “ A . N o t w ith th e B ruges, n o ; b u t do y o u rea lise , s ir, t h a t I to o k a c c o u n t t h a t w e o v e rto o k a n d passed n in e te e n ships fr o m A n tw e r p t o F lu s h in g , a n d passed tw e n ty -th r e e ships t h a t w e re g o in g u p th e passagew ay ? 629 : Q . Y o u are v e r y p ro u d , are y o u , o f y o u r speed ? A . N o ; b u t I o n ly w is h t o im p ress i t u p o n y o u t h a t h a d we s to p p e d fo r e v e ry s h ip w e s h o u ld n e v e r h a v e c a u g h t th e m a il o r passenger t r a in . 630 : Q. B u t i f th e r u le re q u ire s y o u t o s to p a n d w a it a n d s te m th e t id e ? A . N a tu r a lly , i f I th o u g h t th e re was a n y d a n g e r o f c o llis io n , o r r is k o f c o llis io n , I w o u ld m o s t d e c id e d ly r is k lo s in g th e t r a in ra th e r . 631 : Q. D o y o u m ea n th a t, unless th e re is in y o u r v ie w a r is k o f c o llis io n , y o u a re a t lib e r t y t o keep o n because y o u are c a r r y in g passengers a n d m a ils ? A . I f we can do i t w ith o u t a n y r is k t o o th e r s h ip s .” A n d a g a in , w h e n he is a s k e d : “ W h y in y o u r d e p o s itio n w h e n y o u s ta te th e circ u m s ta n c e s o f th e c o llis io n d o n o t y o u m e n tio n th e existe nce o f th e A tla n d a t a ll ? ” he says, a t q u e s tio n 314 : 4 T h e A tla n d I to o k i t as c le a r o f m e, a n d i t W ould n o t a ffe c t m e .” I n m y v ie w th e m a s te r o f th e B ruges to o k q u ite a w ro n g v ie w o f h is P o s itio n u n d e r th e ru le s. H e tre a ts h im s e lf as a vessel w h ic h , c a r r y in g m a ils a n d passengers, s h o u ld n o t sla cken speed unless she is a b s o lu te ly o b lig e d to because she has g o t t o c a tc h th e tra in s o n th e E n g lis h side. H e speculates, he take s th e ris k , he goes o n fa s t, a n d hopes i t W ill go a ll r ig h t . H e does n o t re a d th e r u le as r e q u irin g h im t o s to p i f th e re is a tu r n in g vessel ahead o f h im a t a d is ta n c e w h e n he c a n n o t be sure w h e re he w i ll fin d th e t u r n in g vessel When he gets t o h e r. H e seems t o h a v e th o u g h t Jt s u ffic ie n t— a n d th e le a rn e d P re s id e n t a n d t r i n i t y M as te rs b e lo w 's e e m t o h a v e t h o u g h t i t s u ffic ie n t— i f w h e n he gets th e re th e re is in fa c t ro o m , n o m a tte r w h a t has been h a p p e n in g d u rin g

Vol. X V I I I . , N . S.

th e p re v io u s tim e , a n d n o m a tte r w h a t th e r is k was o f th e tu r n in g s h ip b e in g in th e w a y in g o in g in to th e d o c k , t h a t w i ll be en ou gh i f h e has sp e cu la te d a n d th e r is k has com e o ff. I n m y v ie w t h a t is q u ite a w ro n g re a d in g o f th e ru le . T h e r u le re q u ire s y o u w h e n th e re is a r is k some w a y o ff— w h e n y o u do n o t k n o w w h a t is t o ha p p e n , a n d see a t u r n in g s h ip , t o lessen t h a t r is k , i f y o u are g o in g a g a in s t th e tid e , b y s to p p in g y o u r w a y o v e r th e g ro u n d , a n d i f y o u a re g o in g w it h th e tid e , g o in g s lo w u n t il y o u are sure w h a t th e p o s itio n is. F r o m t h a t p o in t o f v ie w , o n th e a d m itte d fa c ts ( I w i ll sa y som e

t h in g a b o u t th e a d v ic e we h a v e re c e iv e d fro m o u r assessors in a m o m e n t), i t appears t o m e t h a t th e B rug es b ro k e th e ru le .

N o w , w h a t a b o u t th e Chatwood ? T h e Chatwood is in a m o re d iff ic u lt p o s itio n , c o m in g u p w it h th e tid e , th a n th e b o a t t h a t is g o in g d o w n a g a in s t th e tid e , because th e b o a t g o in g d o w n a g a in s t th e t id e c an s to p its w a y o v e r th e g ro u n d b y m eans o f its engines. T h e b o a t c o m in g d o w n w it h th e tid e , as I h a v e said, i f i t trie s t o s to p its w a y o v e r th e g ro u n d w i l l be in th e p o s itio n t h a t i t has lo s t s te e rin g w a y a n d w i ll fin d it s e lf in co n s id e ra b le d if f i

c u ltie s . A s I re a d th e le a rn e d ju d g e ’s ju d g m e n t, he says th is : “ I n th e p a rtic u la rs I h a v e m e n tio n e d , as i t seems to m e, th e re can be n o d o u b t t h a t th e Chatwood w as to b la m e .”

H e is c o n d e m n in g th e Chatwood fo r tw o th in g s . F ir s t o f a ll, as appears in th e m id d le o f p . 175, th e le a rn e d P re s id e n t was in d u c e d b y an a rg u m e n t o f M r. L a n g to n — o f w h ic h M r.

L a n g to n has n o w re p e n te d in s a c k c lo th a n d ashes— to fo r m th e o p in io n t h a t th e Chatwood m ad e w h a t th e le a rn e d ju d g e c a lle d “ a v io le n t a lte r a tio n ,” “ a g re a t d iv e rg e n c e ,” fr o m its course o f 7 p o in ts to p o r t o f h e r u p - r iv e r course, a n d h o ld in g t h a t v ie w th e le a rn e d P re s id e n t has c o n de m ned th e Chatwood fo r th e v io le n t d iv e rs io n o f 7 p o in ts to p o r t o f h e r u p - r iv e r course. A n d , seco nd ly, fin d in g th e re was th is v io le n t d iv e rs io n he has s a id “ Y o u n e ve r s ig n a lle d y o u r s ta rb o a rd h e lm .” I t is tru e t h a t y o u b le w a s ta rb o a rd h e lm s ig n a l w h en f ir s t y o u h e a rd th e tu r n in g s ig n a l, b u t w h en y o u m ad e th is v io le n t d iv e rg e n c e y o u m ade n o s ig n a l a t a ll, a n d a ll y o u sa y is — as M r.

D u n lo p has s a id t o us— “ W e ll, b u t w h a t is th e g o o d o f b lo w in g a n y s ig n a l t o th e Bruges ? She does n o t p a y a n y a tte n tio n t o i t , i f she hears i t , so I need n o t b lo w a s ig n a l ” •— w h ic h a g a in is s p e c u la tio n as t o w h a t th e m a s te r o f th e B ruges w i ll o r w i ll n o t h e a r— s p e c u la tio n o f a dangerous c h a ra c te r. T h e tr o u b le w e ha ve h a d a b o u t t h is is t h a t i t tu r n s o u t, b o th as a m a tte r o f a r ith m e tic a n d as a m a tte r o f lo o k in g a t th e c h a rt, a n d seeing w h a t m u s t h a v e happ en ed, t h a t t h a t v io le n t diverg ence o f seven p o in ts t o p o r t was a ll w ro n g — i t c a n n o t h a v e happ en ed. I t w as g o t a t in th is w a y . M r . L a n g to n s a id to th e c a p ta in o f th e Chatwood, “ A ssum e th e an gle o f th e b lo w — w h ic h th e P re s id e n t a fte rw a rd s fo u n d — as th re e -a n d -a -h a lf p o in ts , a n d y o u say t h a t w h e n y o u u ltim a t e ly s ta rb o a rd e d y o u r h e lm y o u g o t ro u n d th re e -a n d -a -h a lf p o in ts ; a d d

1 7 0

Ct. of App.] The Chatwood. [Ct. of App.

these tw o th re e -a n d -a -h a lf’s to g e th e r a n d y o u h a v e g o t seven p o in ts , a n d y o u m u s t th e re fo re a t some tim e h a v e been seven p o in ts o ff y o u r u p -c h a n n e l course.” T h e d iff ic u lt y a b o u t t h a t , a n d w h a t is w ro n g w it h t h a t is , t h a t i t assumes t h a t th e Chatwood was o ff h e r u p - c h a n n e l course, w hereas i t was q u ite c le a r fr o m th e course m ad e, a n d fr o m th e re p e a te d s ta te m e n ts o f h e r c a p ta in , t h a t she n e v e r d iv e rg e d fr o m t h a t course, t h a t she was o n a n u p -c h a n n e l course, b u t was h e a d in g t o s ta r

b o a rd o f i t , h e a d in g fo r th e B e a c o n lig h t , a n d o n an u p - r iv e r course. O nce t h a t is so th e seven p o in ts is gone. M r . L a n g to n gave u p a p o in t a n d a h a lf o f i t — he m a y h a v e t o g iv e u p m o re , b u t a t a n y r a te th e re was n o t a seven p o in ts dive rg e n ce . I t seems t o m e th e re is s o m e th in g m u c h s tro n g e r t h a t t h a t . W h e n y o u lo o k a t th e p o s itio n — a t th e course t h a t th e Chatwood m u s t h a v e been fo llo w in g , w h e n y o u re m e m b e r t h a t b e fo re B u o y N o . 56, w h e re th e b e n d be ga n, she m u s t h a v e been c o m in g a lo n g as she says in m id -c h a n n e l, o n a p r e t t y s tr a ig h t course, w h ic h w o u ld h a v e ta k e n h e r ashore w e ll ab o ve th e K ru is s c h a n s , she m u s t h a v e o v e r-p o rte d h e r h e lm . N o b o d y b u t a lu n a tic w o u ld h a v e gone s tr a ig h t o n because i t w o u ld h a v e ta k e n th e m s tr a ig h t ashore in a v e r y s h o rt tim e . She m u s t h a v e th e re fo re , w h e n she g o t t o B u o y N o . 56 o v e r-p o rte d , as she c o u ld , b y th e p ro p e r c a lc u la tin g o f p o r tin g , h a v e gone th r o u g h be tw e e n th e A tla n d a n d th e e a s te rn shore, w ith o u t a n y s ta rb o a rd in g a t a ll. Y e t she says she s ta r

b o a rd e d n o t seven p o in ts b u t s lig h t ly — a p o in t.

I t is p r e t t y o b v io u s fr o m t h a t — a n d w e g o t M r . L a n g to n t o la y d o w n o n th e c h a r t w h a t he t h o u g h t w as th e course o f th e Chatwood—

a n d th e course t h a t he la id d o w n e x a c tly c o n firm s w h a t we h a v e suggested t h a t th e Chatwood m u s t h a v e o v e r-p o rte d w h ic h i f c o n tin u e d w o u ld h a v e ta k e n h e r ashore on th e ea stern b a n k , t h a t she h a d t o s ta rb o a rd so m u c h b y reason o f h e r o v e r-p o rtin g t h a t she c o u ld n o t g e t ro u n d s tr a ig h t u p th e r iv e r b u t w e n t in t o th e Bruges. W h e n one lo o k s a t th e course w h ic h M r . L a n g to n la id d o w n o n th e c h a rt, as re p re s e n tin g h is a rg u m e n t as t o w h a t h a p p en ed— a c h a rt w h ic h o f course w i l l go w it h th e papers i f th is case s h o u ld go t o a n y s u p e rio r t r ib u n a l— i t is c le a r t h a t th e f a u lt o f th e Chatwood was n o t a s e v e n -p o in t s ta rb o a rd in g (w h ic h c a n n o t h a v e h a p p e n e d unless y o u assume t h a t th e Chatwood goes u p n e a rly to u c h in g th e A tla n d a n d th e re gets r o u n d n e a rly a t r ig h t angles, w h ic h , lo o k in g a t th e c h a rt, seems a b s u rd )— she has o v e r-p o rte d , she has m ad e a f a u lt y ju d g m e n t in o v e r-p o rtin g , a n d th e n has t o s ta rb o a rd t o t r y a n d c o rre c t h e r o v e r-p o rtin g , b u t , s ta rb o a rd in g a t t h a t tim e , has n o t been able t o g e t ro u n d a g a in w ith o u t h it t in g th e Bruges, w h ic h is w e ll o v e r t o th e e a stern side o f th e r iv e r . I t appears t o m e t h a t th e C hat

wood is f ir s t o f a ll t o b la m e f o r t h a t o v e r

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 185-193)