ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES. 91 - Reports of Cases Relating to Maritime Law : containing a

Ct. of App.] The Tovarisch. [Ct. of App.

earned ju d g e accepts t h e ir v ie w . I f b y h a rd - a -s ta rb o a rd in g th e T ovarisch w o u ld h a v e g o t P a ra lle l w it h th e A lc a n ta ra — i f t h a t w ere th e la e t-—th e n , o f course, i t seems to m e t h a t h a rd -a - p o r tin g was th e w ro n g t h in g t o do, b u t, c on

s id e rin g in th e be st w a y I can, th e c o n tra d ic to r y o p in io n s I h a v e rece ive d I a m n o t s a tisfie d t h a t t ne h a rd -a -s ta rb o a rd in g b y it s e lf w o u ld ha ve a vo id e d th e c o llis io n . I t h in k i t is m u c h m ore ik e ly t h a t i t w o u ld ha ve p ro d u c e d e ith e r a r i g h t-a n g le b lo w o r a b lo w le a d in g a f t a t v e r y n e a rly a rig h t-a n g le , an d, i f so, th e c o llis io n W ould ha ve been ju s t as b a d as i t w as, in th e re s u lt t h a t happ en ed, n a m e ly , th e vessel w o u ld h a w gone to th e b o tto m in th e same w a y .

H a v in g g iv e n th e be st c o n s id e ra tio n I can 0 I'he evidence o f th e c lo u d o f w itnesses w ith W hich I a m encom passed, I com e t o th e con- c usion t h a t th e T o va risch is n o t t o b lam e , and th e A lc a n ta ra is t o b la m e . T h e re s u lt, th e re -

° re , is t h a t th e c la im fa ils , th e c o u n te rc la im succeeds, a n d th e re m u s t be ju d g m e n t fo r th e

ovarisch on th e c la im a n d th e c o u n te rc la im . I o n ly w a n t to say one t h in g m ore . M r.

u n lo p , fo r th e T ovarisch, began h is address to s b y a n ap peal, o r suggestion, t h a t h is c lie n ts a a d been u n ju s tly condem ned fo r n o t ta k in g u ftic ie n t a c tio n a fte r th e c o llis io n to save th e rves o f th e people w h o w ere lo s t o n b o a rd th e .^ r i/ a r a , a n d he was p ro c e e d in g t o in v e s tig a te , it h g re a t care— h is u s u a l care— w h a t h a d h a p pened a fte r th e c o llis io n , w h e n w e sto p p e d h im , and we said— as I say n o w — t h a t w e are n o t g o in g o express a n y o p in io n on th e c o n d u c t o f th e ovarisch a fte r th e c o llis io n fo r th e reason t h a t is ir r e le v a n t t o th e issues w e h a v e t o decide, etore th e M a r itim e C o n v e n tio n s A c t 1911, i t o u ld ha ve been re le v a n t, because th e n fa ilu re o ta k e steps to save liv e s b y h e lp in g th e o th e r

¿P a fte r a c o llis io n was p r im d fa c ie p r o o f o f b v f^ Cl1 ° f th e re g u la tio n s . T h a t w as ab olishe d / th e M a r itim e C o n ve n tio n s A c t 1911, a n d tllR n ’ in m y v ie w , w h a t th e s h ip t h a t has n k th e o th e r does a fte r th e c o llis io n in th e c t j y °1 s a v in g life , o r does n o t do a fte r th e i r r l ° n in th e w a y o f s a v in g life , is q u ite to er,e v a n t to a n y q u e s tio n w h ic h th e c o u r t has o .ueckle, a n d , th e re fo re , I do n o t express a n y P in io n — w e d o n o t express a n y o p in io n — on e c o n d u c t o f th e T ovarisch a fte r th e c o llis io n . U nf y Say flriS ’ t h a t i f th e T ovarisch s h o u ld be no °r*'u n a te en ou gh t o h a v e a n o th e r c o llis io n , w d o u b t w h a t has h a pp en ed in th is case

^ ould le ad h e r m a s te r, a n d tho se in charge o f n t ° be p a r tic u la r ly c a re fu l t h a t th e y d id bf.- *Ung w h ic h m ig h t le ad t o u n p le a s a n t re m a rk s '*ng m ad e a b o u t th e m in th e w a y th e y ha ve no6n r"a d e in t h is case. A s I say, we express so i^ a11' 011 as to th e ju s tic e o r in ju s tic e o f a n y

° h re m a rk s t h a t ha ve been m ade.

f a f t \ ' VrU'NCK’ L J -— 1 aSre c> a n d b u t f o r the th e l a t we are d iffe rin g fr o m th e de cisio n o have ned ]u d g e in th e c o u r t b e lo w I shoulc c o n te n te d m y s e lf w it h s im p ly expressing O u t ° r CUrrenCe w it h th e ju d g m e n t o f m y L o r d I w ill J esPecf> h o w e v e r, fo r th e le a rn e d judge

111 a d d a fe w w o rd s o f m y o w n .

T h e f ir s t q u e s tio n w h ic h calls fo r d e te rm in a tio n is w h e th e r th e re g u la tio n s p r o h ib it th e sh o w in g o f a green fla re -u p lig h t . T h e an sw e r t o th is q u e s tio n depends u p o n th e tr u e m e a n in g o f a rts . 1 a n d 12. A r t . 1 p ro v id e s t h a t th e rules c o n c e rn in g lig h ts s h a ll be c o m p lie d w it h in a ll w e a th e rs fro m sunset t o sunrise a n d d u r in g such tim e no o th e r lig h ts , w h ic h m a y be m is ta k e n fo r th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts , s h a ll be e x h ib ite d . I re a d t h a t, n o t as a p r o h ib itio n a g a in s t sh o w in g a n y lig h ts o th e r th a n th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts b u t o n ly as a p r o h ib itio n a g a in s t th e e x h ib itio n o f such o th e r lig h ts as m ig h t be m is ta k e n fo r th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts , th u s im p lie d ly a u th o ris in g th e e x h ib itio n o f a n y lig h ts w h ic h m ig h t n o t be so m is ta k e n . A r t . 12 e x p re s s ly a u th o ris e s th e sh o w in g o f a fla re -u p lig h t o r th e use o f a n y d e to n a tin g s ig n a l t h a t c a n n o t be m is ta k e n fo r a distress s ig n a l, i f necessary, in o rd e r t o a t t r a c t a tte n tio n a n d in a d d itio n t o th e lig h ts w h ic h , b y th e ru le s , are re q u ire d to be c a rrie d . H i l l , J . has h e ld t h a t th e o n ly fla re -u p lig h t a u th o ris e d b y th is a r tic le is a w h ite (o r p o s s ib ly a b lu e ) fla re -u p lig h t , a n d c o n s e q u e n tly t h a t th e T ovarisch c o m m itte d a b re a c h o f th e re g u la tio n s b y sh o w in g a green fla re -u p lig h t . I n a r r iv in g a t th is c o n c lu s io n th e le a rn e d ju d g e has fo u n d e d h im s e lf u p o n a re v ie w o f th e re le v a n t e a rlie r re g u la tio n s fr o m th e y e a r 1863 d o w n t o th e p re s e n t tim e .

I n m y ju d g m e n t t h a t course, h o w e v e r in te r e s tin g fr o m th e s tu d e n t’ s p o in t o f v ie w , is n o t th e p ro p e r w a y o f c o n s tru in g th e R e g u la tio n s o f 1910 w h ic h , i t m u s t be b o rn e in m in d , w e re th e o n ly re g u la tio n s g o v e rn in g a t th e tim e , a n d h a v e t o be ob serve d n o t o n ly b y B r it is h b u t also b y fo re ig n seam en. I t h in k i t is to o m u c h to e x p e c t fr o m e ith e r a B r it is h o r fo re ig n seam an t h a t he s h o u ld h a v e a ll th e e a rlie r re g u la tio n s in m in d . H is o n ly d u t y is t o s tu d y a n d observe th e p re s e n t re g u la tio n s , a n d t o a c t a c c o rd in g t o th e d ire c tio n s w h ic h o n t h e ir tr u e c o n s tru c tio n are th e re b y g iv e n . I t is t o be observed t h a t a r t . 12 im poses n o c o n d itio n as t o th e c o lo u r o f th e fla re -u p lig h t w h ic h m a y be used. W h e n e v e r a lig h t o f a p a r tic u la r c o lo u r is re q u ire d t o be show n, th e re g u la tio n s in d ic a te t h a t c o lo u r.

F o r in s ta n c e , in a r t . 2 th e c o lo u rs o f th e side lig h ts , a n d th e c o lo u r o f th e m asth e a d lig h t are d e fin ite ly p re s c rib e d . T h e le a rn e d ju d g e h e ld t h a t w i t h re g a rd t o fla re -u p lig h ts th e re was n o necessity t o p re s c rib e th e c o lo u r because such lig h ts m u s t n e cessa rily be o f a w h ite (o r b lu e ) c o lo u r. T h a t v ie w is in m y o p in io n m is ta k e n , a n d m o re o v e r is n e g a tiv e d b y th e p ro v is io n in a r t . 9 (d), p a r. 2, th a t, in c e rta in events, a s a ilin g vessel is t o show a w h ite fla re -u p lig h t o r to rc h , th u s in d ic a tin g t h a t th e re g u la tio n s c o n te m p la te t h a t th e re m a y be fla re -u p lig h ts o f o th e r colou rs th a n w h ite .

T h e c o n clu sio n I h a v e com e to is t h a t, on th e tr u e c o n s tru c tio n o f th e re g u la tio n s th e re is n o p r o h ib itio n a g a in s t sh o w in g a fla re -u p lig h t o f a n y c o lo u r a lw a y s b e a rin g in m in d t h a t u n d e r reg. 1 e v e ry lig h t show n m u s t be o f such a c h a ra c te r as n o t t o be m is ta k e n f o r one o f th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts . I n th e p re s e n t case th e re is no evidence, o r even suggestion, t h a t th e green

Ct. ofAf p.]

fla re d is p la y e d b y th e T o v a ris c h was, o r c o u ld be, m is ta k e n f o r one o f th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts , a n d I h a ve , th e re fo re , com e t o th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t th e T o v a ris c h d id n o t c o m m it a b re a c h o f th e re g u la tio n s in so fa r as th e c o lo u r o f th e fla re -u p lig h t is concerned.

T h e o th e r q u estio ns in th is case are questio ns w h ic h re la te t o th e c o n d u c t o f th e re s p e c tiv e office rs in cha rge o f th e tw o ships, a n d t o th e n a v ig a tio n o f th o se ships, a n d I confess to h a v in g f e lt con sid e ra b le h e s ita tio n in d iffe rin g , on m a tte rs o f t h a t k in d , fr o m th e ju d g m e n t o f th e exp e rie n ce d ju d g e in th e c o u r t be lo w , a r r iv e d a t w i t h th e assistance o f th e E ld e r B re th re n . B u t h a v in g h a d th e assistance o f counsel a n d assessors, I a m encouraged to express m y o w n v ie w s e s p e c ia lly as th e ju d g m e n t w h ic h has ju s t been d e liv e re d b y m y L o r d agrees e n tir e ly w i t h th e o p in io n w h ic h I fo rm e d d u r in g th e progress o f th e case in th is c o u rt.

I n th e fir s t place , d e a lin g w it h th e fla re -u p lig h t e x h ib ite d b y th e T ovarisch, M r . L a n g to n has a rg u e d t h a t th e T o v a ris c h o u g h t n o t to h a v e e x h ib ite d a n y fla re -u p lig h t a t a ll as, a t th e tim e w h e n i t was e x h ib ite d , th e re w as no n e cessity t o c a ll a tte n tio n o f th e A lc a n ta ra to th e T o va risch . T h e o ffic e r in charge o f th e T o v a ris c h w h o show ed th e fla re ju s tifie d h is a c tio n o n th e g ro u n d t h a t as th e A lc a n ta ra w as a p p ro a c h in g s o m e w h a t close t o th e T o v a ris c h he de sired t o c a ll a tte n tio n t o th e le n g th a n d c h a ra c te r o f h is s h ip in case th e A lc a n ta ra m ig h t a tte m p t t o pass to o close u n d e r h e r s te rn . W e h a v e h a d a d v ic e o n t h a t m a tte r , a n d i t seems t o m e t h a t i t c a n n o t p r o p e r ly be s a id t h a t in th e circ u m s ta n c e s th e s h o w in g o f a fla re was a n u n rea sona ble a c t o n th e p a r t o f th e o ffic e r in cha rge o f th e T ovarisch. I t m a y n o t h a v e been a b s o lu te ly necessary a t th e tim e , because th e vessels w e re green t o green, b u t th e a c tio n w as one w h ic h in m y o p in io n a n o ffic e r, in charge o f such a vessel, m ig h t re a s o n a b ly h a v e ta k e n . T h a t b e in g so, I h a v e com e to th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t th e a c tio n o f th e o ffic e r in cha rge o f th e T ovarisch in s h o w in g a green fla re -u p l i g h t a t th e tim e w h e n he d id was ju s tifie d .

A s t o th e a c tio n ta k e n b y th e A lc a n ta ra , she im m e d ia te ly o n seeing th e green fla re -u p lig h t o n th e T ovarisch, h a rd -a -p o rte d , k e e p in g h e r speed. I confess t h a t I h a v e th r o u g h o u t been, a n d s t ill am , t o t a lly a t a loss to u n d e rs ta n d h o w s u c h a c tio n c o u ld be ju s tifie d . She was green t o green w it h a s a ilin g s h ip close o n h e r s ta rb o a rd b o w . T h a t s a ilin g s h ip show ed a green fla re . A s s u m in g t h a t th e fla re p u z z le d h e r, o r was tre a te d as a d e m a n d t o ta k e some im m e d ia te a c tio n , I c a n n o t t h in k t h a t i t ju s tifie d h e r in s te e rin g s tr a ig h t in to , o r r ig h t across th e bow s o f, th e s a ilin g s h ip . A t m o s t i t c o u ld o n ly p r o p e r ly be ta k e n as a d e m a n d o n h e r t o sto p o r reverse, o r p o s s ib ly t o sheer o ff b y s ta rb o a rd in g . I t is suggested b y M r . L a n g to n t h a t th e fla re -u p lig h t m ig h t h a v e in d ic a te d t o th e A lc a n ta ra t h a t th e re w e re ne ts ahead w h ic h she o u g h t t o a v o id . T h a t sug ge stion seems to m e fa r-fe tc h e d , a n d s o m e w h a t fa n ta s tic a l. I n th e re s u lt I a m o f o p in io n t h a t th e A lc a n ta ra

[Ct. ofAp p. was t o b la m e fo r th e a c tio n she to o k o n seeing th e fla re .

A s t o th e T ovarisch, s im u lta n e o u s ly w it h s h o w in g th e green fla re -u p lig h t she h a rd -a - s ta rb o a rd e d . A t t h a t tim e , as I h a v e s ta te d b e fore, th e vessels w ere green t o green, a n d I t h in k th e re is a good de al in M r . D u n lo p ’ s c o n te n tio n t h a t th e vessels n e v e r w e re crossing vessels w it h in th e d e fin itio n o f th e ru le , a n d t h a t i f th e y h a d a t a n y tim e been crossing vessels, t h a t phase h a d passed w h e n th e T ovarisch h a rd -a -s ta rb o a rd e d . B e t h a t as i t m a y , h o w e v e r, w e h a v e been a d v is e d , a n d i t seems to m e c o m m o n sense, t h a t th e T ovarisch in h a rd -a -s ta rb o a rd in g , was n o t in a n y w a y e n d a n g e rin g h e r o w n s a fe ty , o r th e s a fe ty o f th e vessel on h e r s ta rb o a rd b o w . B y s ta rb o a rd in g she was sheering a w a y fr o m t h a t vessel, a n d even i f th e y w e re crossing vessels a n d th e crossing phase w ere n o t q u ite o ve r, h e r h e lm a c tio n w o u ld in n o w a y e m barrass th e a p p ro a c h in g s h ip ; o n th e c o n tra ry , i t w o u ld g iv e he r m o re ro o m th a n she h a d b e fore. I n m y o p in io n , th e re fo re , no b la m e a tta c h e s to th e T ovarisch f o r h e r h e lm a c tio n a t t h a t stage, n o r can t h a t h e lm a c tio n be m ade use of, as M r . L a n g to n s o u g h t to do , fo r h is c o n te n tio n t h a t i t s u b s e q u e n tly p re v e n te d th e T ovarisch fr o m c o m in g o v e r t o s ta rb o a rd o n th e p o r t h e lm as q u ic k ly as she w o u ld o th e rw is e h a v e been ab le t o do.

T h e le a rn e d ju d g e has h e ld th e T ovarisch t o b la m e f o r n o t c o n tin u in g o n h e r h a rd -a - s ta rb o a rd course w h e n th e A lc a n ta ra h a rd -a - p o rte d a n d was c o m in g in to h e r o r across he r bow s. M r. L a n g to n has f r a n k ly s ta te d t h a t t h a t was n o t a p o in t w h ic h he m ade a t th e t r ia l, a n d t h a t h is c o n te n tio n s th r o u g h o u t w e re, fir s t, t h a t th e T ovarisch o u g h t n o t t o h a v e h a rd - a -s ta rb o a rd e d in th e f ir s t in s ta n c e ; an d, seco nd ly, t h a t w h e n th e c o llis io n was im m in e n t she p o rte d to o soon. I n o th e r w o rd s , his p o in t w as t h a t she o u g h t t o h a v e k e p t he r course in th e f ir s t in s ta n c e a n d n o t h a rd -a - s ta rb o a rd e d , a n d , seco nd ly, t h a t she o u g h t t o ha ve k e p t h e r course w h e n th e c r it ic a l m o m e n t cam e, a n d n o t th e n h a rd -a -p o rte d .

O n th e a d v ic e t h a t w e h a v e re ce ive d i t seems to m e t h a t w h a te v e r a c tio n th e T ovarisch m ig h t h a v e ta k e n o r o m itte d t o ta k e , a fte r th e A lc a n ta ra h a rd -a -p o rte d w o u ld n o t ha ve a v o id e d th e c o llis io n . N o d o u b t i f th e T o v a r- isch h a d ta k e n one o r o th e r o f th e courses suggested b y counsel fo r th e resp on den ts o r b y th e le a rn e d ju d g e th e c o llis io n w o u ld h a v e been d iffe re n t in c h a ra c te r as she w o u ld e ith e r h a v e been r u n in t o b y th e A lc a n ta ra o r w o u ld h a v e s tr u c k th e A lc a n ta ra a t a d iffe re n t an g le a n d in a d iffe re n t place, b u t i t is q u ite p la in to m y m in d on th e evidence t h a t a c o llis io n was in e v ita b le a fte r th e h e lm a c tio n ta k e n b y th e A lc a n ta ra .

P e rs o n a lly I a m n o t s u ffic ie n tly versed in these m a tte rs t o say w h a t w as th e b e s t a c tio n t h a t th e T ovarisch c o u ld h a v e ta k e n , w h e n th e re d lig h t o f th e A lc a n ta ra opened u p , a n d she h e a rd th e b la s t w h ic h s ig n a lle d t o h e r t h a t t h a t vessel was h a rd -a -p o rtin g , b u t w e h a v e been The Tovarisch.

ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES.

93 The Tovarisch. [Ct. of App. Ct. of App.]

a d v is e d (a n d I t h in k r ig h t ly ) t h a t th e T ovarisch,

|n th e circu m sta n ce s, w as n o t to b la m e fo r lia r d - a - p o rtin g in s te a d o f k e e p in g h e r course o r c o n tin u in g h e r h a rd -a -s ta rb o a rd in g .

I n th e re s u lt fo r th e reasons s ta te d , I agree w it h th e ju d g m e n t o f m y L o r d t h a t th e A lc a n  tara w as alone to b la m e a n d t h a t t h is ap pe al o u g h t t o be a llo w e d .

Greer, L . J . — I also ha ve com e t o th e c o n clu sion t h a t t h is a p p e a l o u g h t to be a llo w e d an d a d e c la ra tio n m ade, w it h its u s u a l c o n sequences, t h a t th e A lc a n ta ra was s o le ly to blam e f o r th e c o llis io n b e tw ee n h e r a n d th e to v a ris c h . T h e a lle g a tio n s a g a in s t th e c on

d u c t o f th e T ovarisch seem t o m e to ha ve been to u r. F ir s t o f a ll, i t is said she showed a green h a re -u p lig h t w h e n , i f she o u g h t t o h a v e show n a lig h t a t a ll i t o u g h t to ha ve been a w h ite ua re-u p lig h t ; seco nd ly, i t is said th a t, w h e th e r green o r w h ite , she o u g h t n o t t o ha ve show n a fla re a t a ll ; t h ir d ly , i t is said t h a t she was g u ilt y o f b a d seam anship in s ta rb o a rd in g w h e n sne d id ; a n d la s tly , she w as g u ilt y o f b a d sea

m a n s h ip in p o r tin g w h e n she d id .

I ha ve com e t o a c o n clu sio n u n fa v o u ra b le to rhese c o n te n tio n s in d e p e n d e n tly o f th e answers grven t o th e q u estio ns w h ic h h a v e been p u t in W ritin g t o o u r assessors, i f tho se answers c o n firm th e v ie w t h a t I h a d ta k e n u p o n th e evidence a n d th e a rg u m e n ts p re sen te d to th is c o u rt.

F ir s t o f a ll, w it h re g a rd t o th e c o lo u r o f th e . a rc, I c a n n o t h e lp t h in k in g t h a t th e le a rn e d ju d g e was som ew hat m isled b y his in ve stig a tio n s m to th e h is to r y o f th e re g u la tio n s so fa r as th e y t l f re concerned w it h flares, a n d d id n o t, . be refore, g iv e a d e q u a te a tte n tio n t o th e w o rd -

!ng o f th e re g u la tio n s the m se lve s. T h e re g u la -

■_°ns m a te ria l t o th is q u e s tio n are regs. N o . 1, V ® ' 9) a n d N o . 1 2. N o . 1 p ro v id e s t h a t n o lig h ts , b b ll be sh o w n w h ic h are capable o f b e in g m is- aben fo r th e p re s c rib e d lig h ts . N o . 9 p ro v id e s

b a t th e lig h ts are to be fo r fis h in g vessels a n d ,

<b su b -se ct. 2 o f a r t . 9, w e f in d these w o rd s , b a ilin g vessels ” — t h a t is to say, fis h in g

^cssels i f th e y are s a ilin g vessels— “ s h a ll c a r r y . w lu te lig h t in a la n te rn , so c o n s tru c te d as to b ° w a cle ar, u n ifo rm , a n d u n b ro k e n lig h t a ll

° u n d th e h o riz o n , a n d s h a ll also, on th e P proach o f o r t o o th e r vessels, show w h e re i t /a n best be seen a w h ite fla re -u p lig h t o r to rc h

s u ffic ie n t tim e t o p re v e n t c o llis io n .” A r t . 12 Provides t h a t “ E v e r y vessel m a y , i f necessary li K°rd e r 1° a t t r a c t a tte n tio n , in a d d itio n to th e g n ts w h ic h she is b y these ru le s re q u ire d to ,.l r y> show a fla re -u p lig h t , o r use a n y d e to n - t n g s ig n a l t h a t c a n n o t be m is ta k e n fo r a dis- v ess s ig n a l.” N o w I can conceive t h a t i f th is

^ SsÇl, th e T ovarisch, h a d b u r n t a w h ite fla re i t b r 'i bave been a t once alleg ed “ y o u ha ve t h ° ] n re " ‘ ^ o. 1 because y o u h a v e le d those on in n 0ob '° u t fo r y o u to t h in k t h a t y o u are a fis h - v :” . ' essel a n d are sh o w in g a fla re u n d e r th e p ro - l i J b b s o f a r t . 9.” So m u c h fo r th e c o lo u r o f th e th e * c a n n o t h e lp t h in k in g t h a t o n ly w h ere

¡s ^ artic le s p ro v id e w h a t th e c o lo u r o f th e lig h t be, is th e re a n y p re s c rib e d c o lo u r. T h e re

is no p re s c rib e d c o lo u r in a r t . 12 unless, b y reason o f th e o th e r tw o a rtic le s , y o u re a d a r t . 12 as p re s c rib in g t h a t, a t a n y ra te , i t m u s t n o t be a w h ite lig h t because, o th e rw is e , i t m ig h t be m is ta k e n fo r th e fla re o f a fis h in g vessel. T h e n i t is said t h a t th e y s h o u ld n o t ha ve show n a fla re o f a n y s o rt. I re a d a r t . 12 as m e a n in g th is — n o t t h a t th e y are o n ly t o show such a lig h t i f a c o llis io n is in e v ita b le in th e absence o f th e ir sh o w in g such a lig h t , b u t o n ly if , to tho se on b o a rd i t appears— q u ite r ig h t ly appears— re a s o n a b ly necessary t o c a ll a tte n tio n to t h e ir presence, o r t o t h e ir c h a ra c te r. I t c a n n o t be t h a t th e m a s te r o f a vessel is to be u n d e r an o b lig a tio n t o a c t, a n d t o a c t o n ly w h e re i t is a b s o lu te ly necessary, t o a v o id c o l

lis io n , t h a t he s h o u ld so a c t. T h e w o rd s m u s t be re a d as m e a n in g “ e v e ry vessel m a y , i f re a s o n a b ly necessary, in o rd e r to a t t r a c t a tte n tio n .” I n ta k in g t h a t v ie w , one m u s t n o t fo rg e t o f course, t h a t th e w h o le o b je c t o f these re g u la tio n s is b y t h e ir t it le , th e p re v e n tio n o f c o llis io n s a t sea, a n d a vessel m u s t n o t, w h ere th e re is n o r is k w h a te v e r o f c o llis io n , ta k e i t t h a t i t is necessary fo r i t t o e x h ib it a fla re lig h t . B u t i f th e re is a p o s s ib ility t h a t its p o s itio n a n d c h a ra c te r m a y n o t be u n d e r

s too d, th e n , i t seems t o m e, i t m a y be deem ed re a s o n a b ly necessary to show th e fla re p ro v id e d fo r b y a r t . 12, a n d I agree w it h th e v ie w expressed b y o u r assessors t h a t , in th is case, i t was necessary in o rd e r t o in d ic a te , t o th e a p p ro a c h in g steam er, t h a t th e vessel was n o t one o f th e s h o rt s a ilin g vessels— s h o rt in le n g th — t h a t i t m a y w e ll h a v e been fro m th e m ere o b s e rv a tio n o f th e green lig h t , b u t t h a t i t was a lo n g vessel, w h ic h h a d , in a d d itio n t o th e p a r t o f h e r w h ic h was fo rw a rd o f th e green lig h t , a v e r y la rg e p a r t o f h e r b e h in d th e green lig h t w h ic h i t w as as de sira ble t o p ro te c t fro m c o llis io n as t h a t w h ic h was fo rw a rd o f th e p o s itio n o f th e green lig h t .

T h e n e x t m a tte r t o con sid er is th e s ta r

b o a rd in g . I agree w it h th e a rg u m e n t presented b y M r. D u n lo p t h a t , a t th e tim e o f th e s ta r

b o a rd in g , th e re w as n o th in g w ro n g w it h th e s ta rb o a rd in g . I f b o th vessels k e p t t h e ir course th e re was, a t t h a t tim e , n o r is k o f c o llis io n w h a te v e r, a n d th e s a ilin g vessel w as e n title d t o s ta rb o a rd th e re ju s t as she was— i f she h a d been h a lf a m ile a w a y — e n title d to s ta rb o a rd fo r a n y purposes she considered de sira b le in h e r o w n in te re s ts . I t m a y h a v e m ade a c o l

lis io n w it h th e o th e r vessel less lik e ly , b u t i t was n o t a n im p ro p e r m a n œ u v re . W it h re g a rd t o th e p o r tin g , I a m c o n s id e ra b ly in flu e n c e d b y th e course w h ic h t h is t r i a l to o k . I lo o k a t th e s ta te m e n t o f c la im o n b e h a lf o f th e A lc a n ta ra a n d th e re I fin d w h a t is co m p la in e d o f is th is :

“ H a v in g sta rb o a rd e d , im p r o p e r ly fa ile d an d ne glected t o p o r t t h e ir h e lm in due tim e o r a t a ll. ” I u n d e rs ta n d t h a t as c o v e rin g tw o a lle g a tio n s . (1) T h a t she d id n o t p o r t a t a ll, a n d , seco nd ly, t h a t she d id n o t p o r t soon enough, in due tim e . I do n o t u n d e rs ta n d i t as c o n ta in in g a n y a lle g a tio n t h a t she o u g h t n o t t o ha ve p o rte d a t a ll ; th e c o m p la in t t h a t she d id n o t p o r t c a n n o t be a c o m p la in t t h a t she

K.B.] Gulf & Southern SteamshipCo. (Incorp.) v. British Traders InsuranceCo. [K.B.

o u g h t n o t t o ha ve p o rte d a t a ll. I t is a com p la in t t h a t she ne glected t o p o r t a t a ll, o r i f she d id p o r t she d id n o t d o i t soon enough, a n d I g a th e r t h a t no q u e s tio n in th e course o f th e h e a rin g was p u t t o th e m a s te r to in d ic a te t o h im t h a t he was cha rge d w it h im p ro p e r c o n d u c t in n o t h o ld in g on to his s ta rb o a rd h e lm . B u t be t h a t as i t m a y , I a m s a tis fie d b y th e w a y in w h ic h th is case has been p re sented t o us, a n d th e evidence t h a t has been g iv e n , a n d th e o p in io n s w h ic h we h a v e received

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 109-113)