Ct. of App.] The Sandgate. [Ct. of App.
W ith a good m a n y hatches a n d m o re th a n fo u r holds ; i t appears b y th e b i l l o f la d in g , a n d w h a t ls a d m itte d t o be one o f th e c o n te n ts o f th e b i l l
° f la d in g , t h a t w h a t was in q u e s tio n here fo r th e c a rria g e o f coal was fo u r h o ld s, a n d t h a t fh e re w ere to be w o r k in g h a tches o f fo u r ho ld s—
d w o u ld he fo u r w o r k in g ha tches w h e n th e re
■was w o r k t o be done— a n d in t h a t s ta te o f fh e m a tte r th e consignees re q u ire d th is , t h a t th e average ra te a t w h ic h th e y w e re t o discharge Was 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h o n th e a v a ila b le hays ; a n d th e y adde d a m e m o ra n d u m t h a t th e y w e re n o t t o be o b lig e d t o ta k e th e cargo away a t a h ig h e r ra te th a n 500 to n s a d a y . Chat w as a p ro v is io n fo r t h e ir p ro te c tio n , n ° t s o m e th in g w h ic h th e y h a d u n d e rta k e n as g o v e rn in g th e s ta n d a rd r a te o f discharge, ' ' h a t t h e y u n d e rto o k as g o v e rn in g th e s ta n d a rd ra te o f discharge w as discharge a t th e r a te o f f2 5 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h , a n d t h a t b e in g so, d has been q u ite r ig h t ly recognised b o th a t th e h e a rin g b e lo w a n d in th e a rg u m e n ts here [ h a t w h a t y o u h a v e in t r u t h to d e te rm in e here, ' s> w h a t is m e a n t, u p o n th e f a ir v ie w o f th e tacts a n d do c u m e n ts , b y t h a t te r m “ p e r W orkin g h a tc h .”
As I say, I w as m u c h im pressed b y th e diod e in w h ic h M r. C le m e n t D a v ie s pre sen te d th is , a n d I c o u ld see w h a t a s im p le a n d in some A sp e cts a d v an ta ge ous c o n tra c t i t w o u ld be i f y o u w o rk e d i t o u t so t h a t th e re was a g o v e rn in g hgure. T h a t is o n ly a ge ne ral o b s e rv a tio n ,
•y h a t does “ 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h p e r A vaila ble d a y ” m ean ? W h e n y o u com e to t° o k a t th e fa c ts o f th is case, “ w o r k in g h a tc h ” does n o t m ea n a h a tc h cap ab le o f b e in g used fo r he discharge o f th e h o ld , as I t h in k . T h a t has w id e a m e a n in g t h a t i t w o u ld be im p o ssib le f ° a p p ly i t as be tw ee n business people, a n d
* do n o t t h in k i t m eans a h a tc h in w h ic h th e re had been coal, a h a tc h w h ic h h a d been used fo r t he discha rge o f coa l. I t h in k i t is a business P ro visio n t h a t so lo n g as th e consignees are Proceeding in a busin esslike w a y w it h th e discharge o f th e s h ip , n o t p la y in g tr ic k s w i t h i t , sh ch as w ere suggested, th e y are f u lf illin g t h e ir o b lig a tio n i f t h e y discha rge 125 to n s fr o m each h a tc h a t w h ic h coa l can a t t h a t tim e be d is charged. T h a t is w h a t I t h in k is t h e ir o b lig a -
io n . T h a t v ie w is h e lp e d b y th e la te r w o rd s l h th e second lin e o f clause 7 in th e c h a rte r- P h rty , t o w h ic h m y b r o th e r c a lle d a tte n tio n , p ro v id e d th e vessel c an d e liv e r i t a t th is r a te .”
« th e re is coa l in th e h a tc h a n d in th e course o f W ork r e g u la rly done i t can be d e liv e re d , here is a w o r k in g h a tc h , a n d y o u are t o go on
° r k in g , a p p ly in g y o u r s ta n d a rd a t p e r h a tc h hud n o t fo r th e b u lk o f th e cargo a t p e r d a y u t il y o u h a v e fo u n d o u t t h a t th e consignees aW f u lfille d t h e ir o b lig a tio n s .
,, I h a v e said, I was v e r y m u c h s tr u c k w it h he sim p le p ro p o s itio n w h ic h was p u t b y th e P pellants, b u t I h a v e com e t o th e con clu sion I ery d e fin ite ly t h a t i t is w ro n g a n d t h a t th e earned ju d g e w as r ig h t in h o ld in g t h a t these
°nsignees h a v in g c o m p le te d th e discha rge a t a in ft t e r ra te ^ a n 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h — fe rp re tin g “ w o r k in g h a tc h ” in th e sense as
I u n d e rs ta n d i t — w ere e n title d to say t o th e s hipo w ne rs : “ N o w y o u m u s t p a y d is p a tc h m o n e y fo r th e w o r k in g tim e w e h a v e saved b y d is c h a rg in g a t a g re a te r r a te th a n t h a t a t w h ic h we w e re b o u n d to d isch a rg e .” I t is a sim p le p ro p o s itio n w h e n one has a ll th e m a te ria ls fo r w o r k in g i t o u t.
T h e c o n clu sio n a t w h ic h I a r r iv e is t h a t th e le a rn e d ju d g e was r ig h t in his decision.
H i l l, J . — I agree. T h e r ig h t o f th e c h a rte re rs depends u p o n th e c o rre c t a s c e rta in ment, o f th e la y da ys u n d e r th e c h a rte r. T h e fo rm o f c h a rte r used is one o f th e C h am b er o f S h ip p in g d o c u m e n ta ry fo rm s , a n d p ro v id e s fo r th e a s c e rta in m e n t o f la y da ys b y p u t tin g u p o n th e c h a rte re r th e o b lig a tio n t o ta k e d e liv e ry a t a n average ra te o f so m a n y to n s p e r d a y , S undays a n d h o lid a y s excepted, p ro v id e d th e s h ip can d e liv e r a t t h a t ra te — 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h p e r d a y — w it h a p ro v is o t h a t th e c h a rte re rs s h a ll n o t be b o u n d t o ta k e m ore th a n 500 to n s . T h e s h ip o w n e r contends t h a t as soon as th e n u m b e r o f h atches is ascertained th e q u a n tity is fix e d ; tw o hatches, 250 to n s ; th re e h atches, 375 to n s ; fo u r hatches, 500 to n s ; a n d , b u t fo r th e p ro v is o , w it h fiv e hatches, 625 to n s . I f t h a t c o n te n tio n is r ig h t th e o b lig a tio n is th e same th r o u g h o u t th e discharge o f th e w h o le cargo, w h e th e r a s m a lle r h o ld has a lre a d y been e m p tie d o r n o t. T h e y say t h a t th e w o rd
“ w o r k in g ” is o n ly used t o deno te cargo h atches as d is tin g u is h e d fr o m o th e r hatches, such as b u n k e r ha tches. I f so, one does n o t k n o w w h y th e y d id n o t say “ cargo h a tc h ,” w h ic h w o u ld ha ve been a s im p le expression t o ha ve used, b u t i f th e e ffe c t is as c o n te n d e d b y th e s h ip o w n e r i t is n o t easy t o see w h y th e sh ip o w n e r, w h o k n e w h is o w n s h ip a n d k n e w t h a t he h a d fo u r cargo ha tches, d id n o t say 500 to n s a d a y in accordance w it h th e p r in te d fo rm . H e d id n o t. T h e agree m ent w it h th e c h a rte re rs has th e w o rd s “ w o r k in g h a tc h ,” w h ic h is n o t a v e r y c o m m o n fo r m o f expression.
T h e c h a rte re rs c o n te n d t h a t “ w o rk in g h a tc h ” m eans s o m e th in g m o re th a n cargo h a tc h a n d has reference t o th e a c tu a l w o rk in g o f th e s h ip ; t h a t i t denotes a h a tc h w h ic h can be w o rk e d because th e re is cargo u n d e rn e a th i t w a itin g t o be disch a rg e d . T h e c h a rte re rs recognise a n o b lig a tio n to ta k e d e liv e r y a t 500 to n s w h ile a ll fo u r h o ld s can discharge, b u t i f w h e n w o r k in g a t th e r a te o f 125 to n s p e r h a tc h p e r d a y one h o ld is e m p tie d , a n d th e h a tc h can no lo n g e r be w o rk e d , th e n th e c h a rte re rs c o n te n d t h a t th e o b lig a tio n to ta k e b y th e o th e r ha tches is n o t increased b u t re m a in s a t th e same ra te : 125 to n s pe r h a tc h .
I t h in k t h a t is a sou nd c o n te n tio n . T e s t i t in t h is w a y . Suppose th e discha rge began a t th e b e g in n in g o f th e la y days a t a ll fo u r hatches a n d c o n tin u e d a t 125 to n s p e r h a tc h p e r d a y , th e n in th is p a r tic u la r case be fo re th e s ix th d a y was o u t N o . 1 h a tc h w o u ld be e m p tie d a n d b e fore th e se ve n th d a y was o u t N o . 4 h a tc h w o u ld be e m p tie d , a n d fro m t h a t tim e fo rw a rd th e s h ip c a n n o t d e liv e r a t th e r a te o f 125 to n s,
Ct. of Ap p.] The Sandgate.
o r, a t a n y ra te b y ha tches N o . 1 a n d N o . 4, because th e y h a v e no cargo u n d e r these hatches w h ic h th e y can g e t o u t. T h e ship in such case seems t o ha ve becom e, a n d in fa c t is, in c a p a b le o f g iv in g d e liv e ry b y those hatches. Those ha tches ha ve ceased t o be w o r k in g ha tches, b u t th e o b lig a tio n to ta k e d e liv e ry s t ill rem a ins an o b lig a tio n t o ta k e d e liv e r y a t th e ra te o f 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h . T h e fa c t t h a t tw o o f th e ha tches N o . 2 a n d N o . 3, can s t ill w o r k w h ile N o . 1 a n d N o . 4 c a n n o t w o r k does n o t seem t o m e t o c o n v e rt th e o b lig a tio n fr o m an o b lig a tio n t o ta k e 125 to n s p e r h a tc h in to an o b lig a tio n t o ta k e 250 to n s p e r h a tc h . I n th e same w a y , on th e e le v e n th d a y , I t h in k i t is, o r th e b e g in n in g o f th e t w e lft h d a y in th is case, w o r k in g a t 125 to n s p e r d a y fr o m th e b e g in n in g o f th e la y da ys, N o . 3 was e m p tie d , th e sh ip o w n e r c o u ld n o t d e liv e r a n y m o re coal b y N o . 3, b u t th e re w as s t ill some coal le f t in N o . 2. I t does n o t seem t o m e t h a t t h a t fa c t c o n v e rte d th e o b lig a tio n t o ta k e 125 to n s p e r N o . 2 w o r k in g h a tc h in to an o b lig a tio n to ta k e e ith e r 250 o r 375. T h e o b lig a tio n c o n tin u e d to ta k e 125 u n t il i t was e m p tie d , a n d th e n th e la y da ys e x p ire d . T h a t seems t o m e t o be th e business o f th is th in g , a n d th e o n ly w a y t o g iv e a n y force t o th e use o f th e w o rd “ w o r k in g ” be fore “ h a tc h .”
I t is said t h a t th e p ro v is o lim it in g th e o b lig a tio n o f th e c h a rte re r to ta k e a m a x im u m o f 500 to n s a d a y was som ehow in c o n s is te n t w it h t h a t. I c a n n o t see i t in th e le a st. T h e s h ip o w n e r k n o w s h o w m a n y h atches he has g o t ; i t m a y be t h a t th e c h a rte re r does n o t k n o w h o w m a n y ha tches ; a n d he says : “ Y o u say y o u w a n t fo u r hatches ; a t a n y ra te “ I m u s t n o t be ca lle d u p o n to ta k e m o re th a n 500 to n s a d a y .” N o r do th e w o rd s in th e d is p a tc h clause a b o u t “ la y days in th is c o n n e c tio n t o be c a lc u la te d o n b i l l o f la d in g q u a n t it y w ith o u t d e d u c tio n s ” r e a lly a ffe c t th is q u e s tio n . I t seems p r e t t y c le a r w h a t th e o b je c t o f t h a t is.
F r e ig h t p a y a b le b y b i ll o f la d in g p e r q u a n t i t y d e liv e re d o r a t c h a rte re r’ s o p tio n on b i ll o f la d in g q u a n tity less 2 p e r c e n t.” T h is o n ly ap plies i f in s te a d o f a s c e rta in in g y o u r la y days e ith e r u p o n q u a n tity d e liv e re d o r u p o n b i ll o f la d in g q u a n tity less 2 p e r c e n t., y o u are to ta k e th e a c tu a l b i l l o f la d in g q u a n tity . A s to th e suggested d iff ic u lt y o f th e s h ip o w n e r in k n o w in g w h a t th e la y da ys are g o in g t o be, th e re is n o th in g in i t a t a ll, because i t appears fr o m th e c h a r te r - p a r ty t h a t a b i l l o f la d in g was t o be issued a n d p re s u m a b ly w as issued s p e c ify in g th e q u a n tity o f to n s in each o f th e resp ective h o ld s. I suppose w o rk e d o u t m o s t a c c u ra te ly y o u w o u ld ta k e these several q u a n titie s a n d s t a r t w it h 500 a n d go on re d u c in g t o 375, re d u c in g to 250 a n d fin a lly to 125 ; b u t y o u g e t e x a c tly th e same re s u lt, a n d th e s h ip o w n e r w o u ld h a v e no d iff ic u lt y in d o in g th e a r ith m e tic ; i f he to o k th e q u a n tity in th e h o ld w h ic h c on
ta in s th e la rg e s t q u a n tity a n d d iv id e d t h a t b y 125, th e n t h a t w o u ld g iv e y o u th e p e rio d in w h ic h th e discharge h a d t o be c a rrie d o u t, an d y o u w o u ld th e n ta k e in to a c c o u n t S undays a n d h o lid a y s .
[Ct. of App.
I t h in k th e le a rn e d ju d g e was r ig h t . T h e a p p e lla n ts appealed.
Clement D a vies, K .C . a n d W . R . H o w a rd , f o r th e a p p e lla n ts .
R aeburn, K .C . a n d G. S t. C. P ilc h e r fo r th e re sp o n d e n ts.
Scrutton, L . J . — W e need n o t tr o u b le y o u , M r . R a e b u rn . T h e a p p e lla n ts ha ve to s a tis fy us. t h a t th e c o u r t b e lo w are w ro n g in t h e ir o p in io n o f a n am b ig u o u s a n d m y s te rio u s clause.
I t m a y be t h a t t h a t p u ts a con sid erab le b u rd e n o n th e a p p e lla n ts w h e n i t is d iff ic u lt to say w h a t th e clause m eans, b u t I t h in k I have com e to a c o n clu sio n as t o w h a t th e clause m eans. W h e th e r th e p a rtie s m e a n t i t , I do n o t k n o w , b u t th e y h a v e used c e rta in w o rd s .
F ro m th e fr e ig h t due b y th e m th e c h a rte re rs h a v e d e d u c te d a c e rta in sum fo r d is p a tc h m o n e y , n e a rly fo u r days. T h e s h ip o w n e r says th e y w e re n o t e n title d t o d e d u c t so m u c h fo r d is p a tc h m o n e y — th e y w e re o n ly e n title d to d e d u c t, I t h in k , fiv e -a n d -a -h a lf h o u rs. T o fin d o u t w h a t d is p a tc h m o n e y is due y o u m u s t fin d o u t w h a t tim e w as a llo w e d f o r d is c h a rg in g th e s h ip , because d is p a tc h m o n e y is g e n e ra lly due because th e s h ip is d isch a rg e d sooner th a n th e tim e a llo w e d fo r u n d e r th e p ro v is io n s o f th e c h a rte r. T h e clause as t o th e tim e fo r d is
c h a rg in g is t h is : “ T h e cargo t o be ta k e n fro m alongside b y consignees a t p o r t o f discharge, free o f expense a n d r is k t o th e vessel, a n d a t th e average r a te o f 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h p e r d a y w e a th e r p e r m ittin g ,” w it h a m a rg in a l clause : “ Consignees s h a ll n o t be o b lig e d to ta k e cargo fr o m alon gsid e as p e r clause 7 a t a h ig h e r r a te th a n 500 to n s p e r d a y .” M r.
C le m e n t D a v ie s , in ad dressing h is c a p tiv a tin g a rg u m e n t t o us, said t h a t m eans t h a t th e ship is t o be d is p a tc h e d a t th e ra te o f 500 to n s a d a y . I f i t is so i t is a g re a t p i t y t h a t th e p a rtie s d id n o t use t h a t v e r y s im p le a n d w e ll- k n o w n clause. W h a t th e y do sa y is t h i s :
“ S h a ll n o t be o b lig e d t o ta k e cargo fro m a lo n g side . . . a t a h ig h e r ra te th a n 500 to n s p e r d a y ,” w h ic h is n o t th e same as s a y in g t h a t th e y m u s t ta k e cargo fr o m alongside a t th e ra te o f 500 to n s a d a y . In s te a d o f p u t t in g i t in th e v e r y sim p le w a y t h a t M r . C lem en t D a v ie s suggests t h a t th e y s h o u ld h a v e p u t it , th e y do th is : F ir s t o f a ll th e y do n o t say i t is t o be done in so m a n y da ys— a p p a re n tly t h a t w i ll n o t s u it th e m , th o u g h t h a t w o u ld be a s im p le w a y o f d o in g i t — b u t th e y d o n o t say t h a t th e cargo is t o be ta k e n o u t in so m a n y days. T h e y do n o t say t h a t th e cargo is to be discha rged a t a c e rta in r a te p e r d a y — t h a t a p p a re n tly does n o t s u it th e m . T h e y do n o t w a n t t o say so m u c h each d a y is t o be d is charged, a n d so th e y p u t in th e w o rd “ average,”
b y w h ic h m o re m a y be discha rged one d a y and less a n o th e r d a y , so lo n g as y o u g e t a n average ra te . T h e n , a p p a re n tly , t h a t s t ill w i ll n o t do.
T h e y do n o t w a n t t o sa y a t a n average ra te o f so m u c h p e r d a y . T h e y d o sa y “ a t th e average r a te o f 125 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h pe r d a y ,” a n d M r . C le m e n t D a v ie s says t o us th e re
ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES.
8 7 Ct. of Ap p.] Th e To varisch. [Ct. of App. are alw ays th e same n u m b e r o f w o r k in g hatchesw h e th e r th e re is coa l in th e m o r n o t. B u t i f so th e re was n o need t o p u t in th is ro u n d a b o u t Phrase o f “ p e r w o r k in g h a tc h p e r d a y ,”
because th e hatches b e in g th e same e v e ry d a y y o u co u ld , b y p u t tin g in a ra te p e r d a y , ha ve c a lc u la te d o n th e same n u m b e r o f hatches e v e ry d a y . T h e y p u t in s o m e th in g d iffe re n t to th a t. T h e y say “ a t th e average ra te o f } 25 to n s p e r w o r k in g h a tc h p e r d a y .” T h a t appears t o m e t o assume t h a t th e re m a y be a d iffe re n t n u m b e r o f w o r k in g hatches o n one d a y th a n w h a t th e re is o n a n o th e r. I f one considers w h y th e re m a y be a d iffe re n t n u m b e r
° f w o r k in g hatches on one d a y as com p are d y d h a n o th e r, th e an sw e r m a y be t h a t th e h a tc h is n o t a w o r k in g h a tc h i f th e re is no coa l in i t to w o rk , b u t th e h a tc h m a y be a w o r k in g b a tc h i f th e re is coal in i t a n d y o u do n o t w o r k d - I n th e o r ig in a l fo r m in w h ic h i t cam e in to c h a rte r-p a rtie s , th e d e fin itio n o f a w o r k in g d a y Was a d a y on w h ic h ships in th e p o r t o r d in a r ily W orked, a lth o u g h a p a r tic u la r s h ip d id n o t w o rk on t h a t d a y . A w o r k in g h a tc h in th e parné w a y , i t seems t o m e, is a h a tc h w it h coal
¡b i t on t h a t d a y , a n d th e fa c t t h a t y o u do n o t happen t o w o r k i t on t h a t d a y does n o t p re v e n t be in g a w o r k in g h a tc h w h ic h y o u o u g h t to have w o rk e d , a n d w h ic h m u s t be ta k e n in to acco un t o n th e average.
I com e t o th e co n clu sio n , 'th e re fo re , t h a t y o u c a n n o t re a d t h is ro u n d a b o u t fo r m as a r o u n d a b o u t w a y o f s a y in g w h a t m ig h t h a v e been said q u ite s im p ly : “ I w i ll discharge 500 to n s Per d a y o u t o f fo u r cargo hatches, 125 to n s 0 r each h a tc h .” W h a t i t does m ea n is to assume t h a t th e a m o u n t m a y v a r y p e r d a y , a cco rding as th e re is a w o r k in g h a tc h — a b a tc h w h ic h y o u can w o r k because th e re is coal in i t . W h e th e r i t was a reasonable agree
m e n t t o m ake o r n o t, i t is n o t fo r m e t o say.
. e p a rtie s ha ve m ad e i t in t h a t fo r m a n d n o t ln th e s im p le fo r m in w h ic h th e y w o u ld have
¡bade i t i f M r. C le m e n t D a v ie s ’ c o n s tru c tio n bad been r ig h t .
P o r these reasons I t h in k t h a t th e tw o c o u rts
¡■ ° w cam e to th e c o rre c t v ie w o f w h a t t h is Phrase m eans. I f shipo w ne rs do n o t lik e i t th e ob vious course fo r th e m is n o t t o go on p u t tin g .¡do th e fo rm o f c h a rte r th e a d d itio n a l w o rd s w o rk in g h a tc h ,” b u t t o le ave th e c h a rte r as was o r ig in a lly — so m a n y to n s p e r d a y , e a th e r p e r m ittin g . T h e ap pe al m u s t be
■smissed w it h costs.
La w r en c e, L . J . — I agree. M r . C le m e n t ofa v *es has n o t s a tis fie d m e t h a t th e decision o f t6 E a rn e d ju d g e in th e M a y o r ’s a n d C ity j e L o n d o n C o u rt, o r th e decisions o f th e arn ed ju dg es in th e D iv is io n a l C o u rt w e re ., °h fb a n d , in the se circu m sta nce s, I t h in k bb th e ap pe al fa ils a n d s h o u ld be dism issed.
t h G¡ « ER, L . J . — I agree w it h th e de cisio n o f t 6 ¡earned ju d g e in th e M a y o r’ s a n d C ity o f ondon C o u r t ; I agree w i t h th e tw o ju d g - be^ntS h a v e been d e liv e re d in th e c o u rt
° w , a n d w it h th e tw o ju d g m e n ts t h a t have
been d e liv e re d in th is c o u rt, a n d as th e s ix th ju d g e w h o has t o exercise w h a t he pleases to c a ll h is m in d on th is s u b je c t, I d o n o t t h in k i t necessary t o a d d a n y th in g t o w h a t th e o th e r fiv e ju d g e s h a v e said.
S o lic ito rs fo r th e a p p e lla n ts , B o tte re ll a n d Roche.
S o lic ito rs fo r th e resp on den ts, B a lla n ty n e , C liffo rd , a n d Co.
Dec. 4, 5, a n d 6, 1929.
(B e fo re Scrutton, Law r ence a n d Gr e e r, L . J J . , assisted b y N a u tic a l Assessors).
Th e Tovarisch. (a)
S a ilin g vessel — L ig h ts — Green pyrotechnic lig h t shown to a steamship — “ F la re -u p ” lig h t— W hether green pyro te chn ic lig h t a u thor
ised by the regulations— R egulations f o r p re v e n tin g C o llis io n s a t Sea 1910, arts. 1, 1 2. A r tic le 1 o f the R egulations f o r P re ve n tin g
C o llis io n s at Sea, 1910, provides that no lights w h ich m ay be m istaken f o r the p rescribed lights s h a ll be exhibited. A r t . 12 provides that a vessel m a y i f necessary in order to attract atten tion, i n a d d itio n to the lig h ts w h ich she is by the rules re q u ire d to c a rry , show a fla re -u p lig h t.
H e ld , tha t a green pyro te chn ic lig h t, o f the type w h ich is held i n the hand o f the person ex
h ib itin g it , disp la ye d u p o n the starboard side o f a s a ilin g vessel, is not a lig h t w h ich can be m is taken f o r a prescribed l i g h t ; that the fla re -u p lights, the use o f w h ich is authorised by a rt. 1 2, are n o t lim ite d to w h ite lig h ts, but m ay in clud e a green l i g h t ; a n d tha t there had been no breach o f the regulations.
Ap pe a lfro m a ju d g m e n t o f H i ll, J . assisted b y E ld e r B re th re n (ante, p . 58 ; 141 L . T . R e p . 611 ; (1929) P . 293), h o ld in g th e a p p e lla n ts , ow ners o f th e R u ssia n s a ilin g vessel T ovarisch, w h o w e re de fe n d a n ts in th e c o u r t b e lo w , t o bla m e fo r a c o llis io n betw een th e T ovarisch a n d th e resp on den ts’ ste a m s h ip A lc a n ta ra , w h ic h to o k place in th e E n g lis h C hannel on th e n ig h t o f th e 2 4 th F e b . 1928.
T h e c o llis io n to o k place in th e fo llo w in g circu m sta nce s : W h e n f ir s t s ig h te d b o th side lig h ts o f th e A lc a n ta ra w ere seen b y those on b o a rd th e T ovarisch, b u t s u b s e q u e n tly th e re d lig h t o f th e A lc a n ta ra closed, a n d a lth o u g h th e vessels w ere th e n in a p o s itio n to pass each o th e r a ll c le a r s ta rb o a rd to s ta rb o a rd , tho se on b o a rd th e T ovarisch e x h ib ite d o n th e s ta rb o a rd side o f th e b rid g e a green p y ro te c h n ic fla re -u p lig h t . T h e lig h t w as n o t e x h ib ite d in a la n te rn o r screened b u t was o f th e ty p e w h ic h is h e ld in th e h a n d o f th e person e x h ib itin g i t , and shows a n “ a ll-ro u n d ” lig h t . T h e T ovarisch a t th e same tim e t h a t th e fla re was e x h ib ite d ,
(a) Reported by Ge o f f r e y Hu t c h in s o n, Esq., Barrister- at-Law.
Ct. of App.] The Tovabisch. [Ct. of App.
com m enced t o s ta rb o a rd . U p o n seeing th e green “ fla re -u p ” lig h t , th e A lc a n ta ra a p p a r
e n tly p o rte d o r h a rd -a -p o rte d , b r in g in g th e tw o vessels in to c o llis io n .
T h e R e g u la tio n s fo r P re v e n tin g C o llision s a t Sea 1910, p ro v id e as fo llo w s :
Rules Concerning L ig h ts .— A r t. 1. These rules concerning lig h ts shall be com plied w ith in a ll weathers from sunset to sunrise, and d u rin g such tim e no other lig h ts which m ay be m istaken fo r the prescribed lights shall be exhibited. . . .
A rt. 12. E v e ry vessel m ay, i f necessary in order to a ttra c t atte n tio n , in a d d itio n to the lights which she is b y these rules required to carry, show a flare- up lig h t. . . .
H i ll, J . h e ld t h a t A r t . 12 d id n o t a u th o ris e th e use o f a green o r re d p y ro te c h n ic lig h t , a n d t h a t a “ fla re -u p ” lig h t m e a n t a n o r d in a r y lig h t , a n d n o t a s p e c ia lly c o lo u re d flam e . H e h e ld fu r th e r , u p o n th e answers o f th e E ld e r B re th re n , t h a t tho se o n b o a rd th e A lc a n ta ra m u s t h a v e been deceived b y th e fla re -u p lig h t e x h ib ite d b y th e T ovarisch, a n d t h a t th e T ovarisch w as alon e t o b la m e fo r th e c o llis io n .
T h e ow ners o f th e T ovarisch appealed.
D u n lo p , K .C ., S tran ger a n d K r o u g lia k o ff fo r th e a p p e lla n ts .— T h e le a rn e d ju d g e was w ro n g in h o ld in g t h a t th e A lc a n ta ra was de ceived b y th e lig h t e x h ib ite d b y th e T ovarisch. T he lig h t was n o t fo rb id d e n b y th e R e g u la tio n s . T h e re is n o th in g t o r e s tr ic t th e use o f “ fla re - u p ” lig h ts t o w h ite lig h ts . A c o lo u re d fla re -u p lig h t m a y be used, p ro v id e d t h a t i t c a n n o t be m is ta k e n fo r a n y o f th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts . T h e lig h t used b y th e T o v a ris c h c o u ld n o t h a v e been m is ta k e n fo r a n y th in g b u t a p re s c rib e d lig h t . T h e c o llis io n was s o le ly caused b y th e a c tio n ta k e n b y th e A lc a n ta ra .
La n g to n , K .C ., D ig b y , K .C ., a n d C y r il M ille r . — T h e re g u la tio n s o n ly p e r m it th e use o f a fla re -u p lig h t w h e n “ necessary t o a t t r a c t a tte n tio n .” T h e vessels in th e p re s e n t case w ere green t o green, a n d th e re was th e re fo re no necessity f o r th e T o v a ris c h t o a t t r a c t th e a tte n tio n o f th e A lc a n ta ra . T h e T ovarisch was r ig h t ly h e ld alon e t o b la m e .
D u n lo p , K .C . re p lie d .
Scrutton, L . J . — T h is case is one o f some d iff ic u lt y o w in g t o tw o r a th e r u n u s u a l fe a tu re s . I n th e fir s t place , u n fo r tu n a te ly , th e w h o le o f th e people— o r a lm o s t th e w h o le o f th e people—
w h o c o u ld g iv e evidence as t o th e proceedings o n one o f th e ships, as b e in g o n b o a rd t h a t s h ip , are d ro w n e d . C o n se q u e n tly, w it h th e e x c e p tio n o f one m a n fr o m th e engine ro o m w h o ra n u p o n de ck a n d c a u g h t th e b o w s p rit o f th e o th e r s h ip as i t s tu c k o v e r h is deck,
w h o c o u ld g iv e evidence as t o th e proceedings o n one o f th e ships, as b e in g o n b o a rd t h a t s h ip , are d ro w n e d . C o n se q u e n tly, w it h th e e x c e p tio n o f one m a n fr o m th e engine ro o m w h o ra n u p o n de ck a n d c a u g h t th e b o w s p rit o f th e o th e r s h ip as i t s tu c k o v e r h is deck,