Ap p.] Co s m o p o l it a n Sh ip p in g Co. ( In c.) v. Ha t t o n a n d Co o k s o n Li m. ( Liv e r p o o l). [ Ap p. This, as w ill be seen, does n o t fin d w h e th e r
M ille r o r B is h o p , th e tw o s h ip ’ s officers m e n tio n e d in th e evidence, w ere o r w ere n o t e xp e rie n ce d o r q u a lifie d persons, o r w h e th e r th e d u t y o f p r o v id in g a g a in s t un sea w orthine ss was o r was n o t e n tru s te d t o th e m , a n d we ha ve n o t, th e re fo re , th e b e n e fit o f th e ju d g e ’ s d e ta ile d vie w s o n th e q u e s tio n . I a m o f o p in io n t h a t th e e x c e p tio n w it h re g a rd t o un sea w orthine ss d id l i m i t o r o u s t,” to use L o r d S u m n e r’ s w o rds, th e in it ia l w a r r a n ty o f seaw orthiness, i f th e s h ip o w n e r p ro v e d t h a t he h a d e n tru s te d th e q u e s tio n o f in it ia l sea w o rth ine ss to e x p e rie n c e d o r q u a lifie d persons. I n t h a t e v e n t, t o use th e la nguage o f C o z e n s -H a rd y , L . J . a n d F le tc h e r M o u lto n , L . J . in Jam es N elson a n d Sons L im ite d v . N e lson L in e
<L iv e rp o o l) L im ite d (N o . 2) (10 A s p . M a r. L a w Cas. 390 ; 96 L . T . R e p . 402 ; (1907) 1 K . B . 169) a ffirm e d in th e H o u se o f L o rd s , 97 L . T R e p . 8 1 2 ; (1908) A . C. 1 6 ) : “ T h e in it ia l w a r r a n ty is in fo rc e e x c e p t in one e v e n t,”
*.e., in th is case, th e s h ip o w n e rs p r o v in g an e n tru s tin g w it h in th e clause, in w h ic h case th e in it ia l w a r r a n ty is “ lim it e d . ”
T h e s h ip o w n e r s o u g h t to use th e fa c t t h a t th e e x c e p tio n s a p p lie d t o b r in g in th re e clauses : ( I ) T h e p a r t o f clause 2 w h ic h e n a b le d h im to p ro v e “ e n tru s tin g ,” a n d so t o s a tis fy his a b i l i t y ; (2) clause 1, to re q u ire p ro d u c tio n o f in v o ic e s a n d d e c la ra tio n s o f v a lu e ; a n d (3) clause 10, w it h re g a rd to tim e o f c la im .
I n m y v ie w th e s h ip o w n e r is n o t e n title d to r e ly o n clauses 1 a n d 10 because th e y do n o t a p p ly t o th e p re s e n t case. Clause 1 I w ill ta k e as rea d. I n th e p re s e n t case th e re w ere m th e o r d in a r y course o f business no d e c la ra tio n s o f v a lu e o r in v o ic e s . T h e fr e ig h t was p e r to n , a n d d id n o t de pe nd o n th e v a lu e o f goods, w h ic h th e re w as n o need to declare. A p p a r e n tly , th e goods w ere sh ip p e d b y o w n e r’ s a g e n t to o w n e r, in w h ic h case th e re w o u ld be no in vo ice s o f v a lu e . T h e clause c a n n o t im p ose a n o b lig a t io n to p ro d u c e d o c u m e n ts w h ic h in th e o r d in a r y course o f business do n o t e x is t. Clause 10 re q u ire s t h a t a c la im fo r loss s h a ll be m ade ' ' 'th in tw o da ys a fte r th e d e liv e ry o r fa ilu re t o d e liv e r th e goods. I n th e case o f loss o f s h ip a t sea i t is d iff ic u lt t o say w h a t is th e d a te o f fa ilu re t o d e liv e r. I t h in k t h a t th e clause is P ro b a b ly a p p lic a b le to s h o rt d e liv e r y o f p a r t o f a pa rcel. E x c e p tio n s s h o u ld be c o n s tru e d a g a in s t th e s h ip o w n e r fr a m in g th e m , a n d i f th e s h ip o w n e r w a n ts h is clause to a p p ly to t o t a l oss o f s h ip a n d goods he m u s t sa y so in c le a r rerm s. I n m y v ie w th e p ro v is io n s o f clauses an d 10 do n o t in a n y e v e n t a v a il th e s h ip ow ne r.
T he q u e s tio n w it h re g a rd to th e a p p lic a b ility . th e e x c e p tio n o f sea w o rth ine ss in clause 2 is m o re c o m p lic a te d . I n The E u ro p a (11 A s p . M a r. L a w Cas. 19 ; 98 L . T . R e p . 246 ; (1908)
• 84) i t was decided, a n d th e de cisio n was a p p ro v e d in K is h v . T a y lo r (12 A s p . M a r. L a w J as. 217 ; 106 L . T . R e p . 900 ; (1912) A . C. 604) a t a b re a c h o f th e in it ia l w a r r a n ty o f sea- o rth in e s s d id n o t g iv e rise t o a c la im a g a in s t
th e s h ip o w n e r unless i t caused th e loss. S u b seq ue nt a u th o ritie s h a v e s a id t h a t th is is n o t lo g ic a l, b u t i t is c o m m o n sense. I p re fe r to say t h a t i t is d e te rm in e d b y a u th o ritie s w h ic h b in d m e.
I n B a n k o f A u s tra la s ia v . C la n L in e Steamers L im ite d (13 A s p . M a r. L a w Cas. 9 9 ; 113 L . T . R e p . 2 6 1 ; (1916) 1 K . B . 39) th e re was a clause in th e b i l l o f la d in g w h ic h p ro v id e d t h a t “ th e s h ip o w n e rs s h a ll be resp on sible fo r loss o r dam age a ris in g fr o m a n y u n f it s ta te o f th e vessel t o rece ive th e goods, o r a n y u n sea w orthine ss o f th e vessel w h e n she sails o n th e voya ge . B u t a n y la te n t d e fe c t in th e h u ll, m a c h in e ry , e q u ip m e n t o r fittin g s s h a ll n o t be considered u n fitn e s s o r un se a w o rth in e ss ; p ro v id e d t h a t th e same do n o t r e s u lt fr o m w a n t o f due d ilig e n c e o f th e s h ip o w n e r o r o f th e s h ip ’ s h u s b a n d o r m a n a g e r.” T h e re w as also a n o th e r—
clause 12— to th e e ffe c t t h a t “ n o c la im t h a t m a y arise in resp ect o f goods s h ip p e d b y th is ste a m e r w i ll be re c o v e ra b le unless m a d e a t th e p o r t o f d e liv e r y w ith in seven da ys fr o m th e d a te o f ste a m e r’ s a r r iv a l th e re .”
Some o f th e goods w ere tra n s h ip p e d , a n d th e q u e s tio n was w h ic h s te a m e r’ s a r r iv a l th e seven da ys w ere t o d a te fro m . B a ilh a c h e , J . h e ld t h a t as th e ste a m e r w as u n s e a w o rth y a t s ta r tin g , th e d e fe c t n o t b e in g la te n t, clause 12 d id n o t a p p ly . T h e C o u rt o f A p p e a l h e ld th a t, as th e re was a n express p ro v is io n in th e b i l l o f la d in g a b o u t u n sea w orthine ss, clause 12 d id a p p ly ; b u t , as i t was a m b ig u o u s in th e case o f tra n s h ip m e n t, i t d id n o t a p p ly t o th e p a r tic u la r case. T h e express p r o v is io n was, i t w i ll be seen, a s ta te m e n t o f r e s p o n s ib ility w it h a lim it a t io n in th e case o f p r o o f o f c e rta in fa c ts w h ic h d id n o t e x is t.
I n th e A tla n tic S h ip p in g a n d T ra d in g Com p a n y L im ite d v . L o u is D re y fu s a n d Co. (127 L . T . R e p . 411 ; (1922) 2 A . C. 250), th e re was n o th in g a b o u t u n sea w orthine ss in th e b i l l o f la d in g . T h e s h ip was u n s e a w o rth y a t s ta r tin g , a n d th e H o use o f L o rd s h e ld t h a t a clause r e q u irin g a r b it r a t io n w it h in a c e rta in tim e was e x c lu d e d b y b re a c h o f th e w a r r a n ty . L o r d S u m n e r s a id t h a t i t w o u ld be d iffe re n t i f th e re was “ a n express e x c e p tio n o f u n s e a w o rth in e s s ,”
m e a n in g , as I u n d e rs ta n d , a n express p ro v is io n w ith re g a rd t o un see w orthine ss w h ic h o u sted o r lim it e d th e in it ia l im p lie d w a r r a n ty .
I n P aterson, Zochonis a n d Co. v . E ld e r D em pster a n d C om pany L im ite d (sup .) th e clause was th e same as in th e p re s e n t case, b u t th e e x c e p tio n o r ig in a lly re lie d o n b y th e s h ip o w n e r was b a d stow age, w h ic h was in a d iffe re n t sentence in th e b i l l o f la d in g fro m th e clause a b o u t p e rils o f th e sea, w h e th e r due t o unsea
w o rth in e s s o r n o t. T h e m a jo r it y o f th e C o u rt o f A p p e a l h e ld t h a t th e s h ip was u n s e a w o rth y a t s ta r tin g b y reason o f b a d stow age, a n d escaped fro m th e seaw orthiness e x c e p tio n b y s a y in g t h a t th e s h ip was u n s e a w o rth y a t s t a r t in g , a n d th e re fo re th e e x c e p tio n o f u n s e a w o rth i
ness d id n o t a p p ly . T h e y also h e ld t h a t th e clause was so a m b ig u o u s as t o be no p ro te c tio n , w it h re g a rd to w h ic h i t seems t o m e t h a t th e
134
Ap p.] Co s m o p o l it a n Sh i p p i n g Co. ( In c.) v. Ha t t o n a n d Co o k s o n Li m. ( Liv e r p o o l). [ Ap p. clause, w h ic h gives th e same p ro te c tio n as th e
H a r te r A c t, is c le a r in g iv in g th e s h ip o w n e r p r o te c tio n i f he pro ves— a n d th e b u rd e n is on h im — t h a t he used reasonable m eans t o p ro v id e a g a in s t u n se a w o rth in e ss, w h ic h he m a y p ro v e b y p r o v in g t h a t he e n tru s te d th e m a tte r to e xp e rie n c e d a n d q u a lifie d officers. O n th is m a tte r , B a n k e s , L . J . says t h a t n o evide nce was g iv e n in th e c o u r t be lo w .
T h e H o u s e o f L o rd s h e ld t h a t b a d stow age, n o t a ffe c tin g th e s a fe ty o f th e s h ip , was n o t u n s e a w o rth in e s s , so t h a t th e w h o le fo u n d a tio n o f th e ju d g m e n t o f th e m a jo r it y o f th e C o u rt o f A p p e a l w e n t. B u t L o r d Cave said t h a t th e s h ip o w n e rs h a d n o t p ro v e d th e existence o f th e c o n d itio n s re fe rre d to in th e p ro v is o , w h ic h , as th e p o in t h a d n o t been raised b e fore R o w la tt, J ., ap pe ars a c c u ra te .
L o r d S u m n e r says (16 A s p . M a r. L a w Cas.
a t p . 360 ; 131 L . T . R e p . 449 (1924) A . C. a t p . 548) : “ T h e c o n tra c t o f c a rria g e e x c e p ts li a b i lit y fo r dam age b y im p ro p e r sto w a g e , b u t, i f th e re was a b re a c h o f th e im p lie d w a r r a n ty o f seaw orthiness, w h ic h th e re is n o th in g in th e c o n tra c t t o l i m i t o r to o u s t, n o n e o f th e e x c e p tio n s o r lim ita tio n s c o n ta in e d in th e b i l l o f la d in g a v a il to p re v e n t th e cargo- o w n e r fr o m re c o v e rin g .”
B u t i f th e c o n tra c t does l i m i t th e im p lie d w a r r a n ty o f seaw orthiness t h a t lim it a t io n m u s t b e g iv e n e ffe c t to ; a n d i f th e s h ip o w n e r pro ves h im s e lf w it h in th e lim it e d w a r r a n ty , th e fa c t t h a t he has n o t p ro v e d c o m p lia n c e w it h th e u n lim ite d w a r r a n ty does n o t, in m y o p in io n , d e s tro y th e lim it e d w a r r a n ty . I f th e im p lie d w a r r a n ty w o u ld be o f A . a n d B ., a n d th e re is an express clause in th e c o n tra c t t h a t th e s h ip o w n e r s h a ll n o t be lia b le i f B . does n o t e x is t p ro v id e d he co m p lie s w it h A . I c a n n o t see h o w he can be lia b le fo r B . T h is is m y v ie w , w h ic h is, I t h in k , c o n s is te n t w it h th e ju d g m e n ts a lre a d y re fe rre d t o in N e lson’ s case (sup .) ; a n d i f th e ju d g m e n ts o f th e m a jo r it y o f th e C o u rt o f A p p e a l in P aterson’s case (su p .) are in c o n s is te n t w it h i t I p re fe r th o se in th e e a rlie r case.
I th e re fo re a p p ro a c h th e fa c ts o f th is case o n th e fo o tin g t h a t in la w th e s h ip o w n e r w i ll succeed i f he pro ves t h a t he has e n tru s te d th e d u t y o f p r o v id in g a g a in s t u n sea w orthine ss to e x p e rie n c e d a n d q u a lifie d persons, even th o u g h th e s h ip was u n s e a w o rth y a t s ta rtin g . O n th e fa c ts w e h a v e t o co n sid e r w h e th e r th e s h ip was u n s e a w o rth y o n s ta rtin g , th e cargo o w ne rs’
a lle g a tio n b e in g (i) t h a t she was so w o rm e a te n in h e r ru d d e r t h a t i t was u n a b le t o w ith s ta n d th e o r d in a r y p e rils o f th e sea a n d b ro k e a d r if t ; a n d ( ii) t h a t h e r sails w ere d e fe c tiv e an d in s u ffic ie n t.
I t was also arg u e d , th o u g h n o t w it h m u c h v ig o u r, ( iii) t h a t h e r carg o was so s to w e d as t o be a d a n g e r t o th e s h ip in t h a t th e p a lm k e rn e ls w ere s to w e d a m o n g th e casks a n d t h a t h e a t m e lte d th e p a lm o il, w h ic h c h o k e d th e b ilg e s , w h ile th e k e rn e ls gave o ff a n offen sive gas ; a n d ( iv ) t h a t th e c a p ta in a n d c re w w ere in c o m p e te n t. T h e le a rn e d ju d g e fo u n d th e
f ir s t tw o a lle g a tio n s p ro v e d , b u t d id n o t, as I u n d e rs ta n d h im , m a k e a n y fin d in g s o n th e la s t tw o , a n d he fo u n d t h a t such u n s e a w o rth i
ness caused th e loss.
The B oste lla n was a fo u r-m a s te d schooner o f a c o m m o n A m e ric a n ty p e . She was b u ilt in th e S ta te o f M a in e in 1906, a n d was a t th e tim e o f h e r s ta r tin g o n th e v o y a g e in q u e s tio n , in O c to b e r, 1919, ju s t o v e r th ir te e n ye a rs o ld . T h e re was n o th in g in h e r age to p re ju d ic e a w o o d e n vessel. She h a d th e h ig h e s t class in th e A m e ric a n R e g is te r o f s h ip p in g , a n d in 1916 h a d passed th e s u rv e y t o m a in ta in h e r class.
H e r n e x t s u rv e y w as n o t due t i l l 1920. T h e p re s e n t p la in tiffs h a d b o u g h t h e r soon a fte r h e r s u rv e y in 1916, a n d s p e n t some 650b on h e r a t th e e n d o f 1917, w h e n she was d r y - do cked . M ille r h a d jo in e d h e r as c a p ta in in
•Tidy 1917, a n d was h e r c a p ta in t i l l 1 st J u n e 1919. H e h a d been o v e r t w e n t y years a m a s te r, was o b v io u s ly a v e r y exp e rie n ce d a n d c o m p e te n t m a n , a n d h a d th e f u l l confidence o f h is ow ners. B is h o p h a d jo in e d h e r as m a te in O c t. 1917, becam e h e r c a p ta in o n 1 st J u n e 1919, a n d was in c o m m a n d w h e n she s ta rte d o n th e v o y a g e in q u e s tio n , a n d w h e n she was a b a n d o n e d in F e b . 1920. H e h a d th e n been a t sea some fifte e n yea rs, fo u r o r fiv e years b e fo re th e m a s t, som etim es as s a ilm a k e r, th e n second m a te fo r th re e yea rs, th e n c h ie f m a te fo r seven yea rs in A m e ric a n schooners tr a d in g t o S o u th A m e ric a , th e W e s t In d ie s a n d co a st
w ise. O n vessels o f th e R ostellan’ s size no lic e n c e is needed fo r m ates b y th e U n ite d S tates re g u la tio n s . B e fo re th e v o y a g e in q u e s tio n he h a d o b ta in e d , a p p a re n tly u n d e r A m e ric a n re g u la tio n s , a p ro v is io n a l licence as m a s te r ; a n d a fte r th e v o y a g e in q u e s tio n he o b ta in e d a fte r e x a m in a tio n in th e U n ite d S tates, a re g u la r licence as m a s te r fo r s a ilin g ships a n d c h ie f m a te fo r stea m sh ip s. H e h a d sa ile d fo r tw o years w ith M ille r , w h o spoke h ig h ly o f h is com petence, a n d was o b v io u s ly , fr o m w h a t h a d h a pp en ed on th e vo ya g e , a m an o f courage a n d resource w h o h a d th e confidence o f h is c re w . A t th e end o f 1917 th e Bostellan w e n t on a v o y a g e fr o m th e S tates t o P o r t E liz a b e th , S o u th A fr ic a , a n d b a c k . She m ade th e v o y a g e succe ssfully, a n d d e liv e re d h e r cargoes s a fe ly ; th e re was no a p p re c ia b le leakage. She was a g a in d ry -d o c k e d a n d he r b o tto m p u t in good c o n d itio n , tw o coats o f c o p p e r p a in t b e in g a p p lie d to h e r w a te rlin e as a p ro te c tio n a g a in s t w o rm s , a n d on 31 st A ug - 1918, she le ft fo r N e w Y o r k fo r a v o y a g e to B o m a , a to w n a l i t t l e w a y u p th e Congo, in B e lg ia n t e r r it o r y . O n th is v o y a g e n e a r B e r
m u d a she m e t w it h a severe h u rric a n e , she s p ra n g a le a k , a n d suffere d con sid e ra b le dam age to h u ll, m asts, a n d sails. W it h o th e r ships in ju r e d in th e same s to rm she p u t in to B e rm u d a . T h e re she w as th re e tim e s s u rv e y e d b y in d e p e n d e n t s u rv e y o rs ; p a r t o f h e r cargo was d ischa rged a n d th e spe cific le a k was lo c a te d .
O n 1 4 th O c t. 1918 a t h ir d s u rv e y r e p o r t was g iv e n , s ta tin g t h a t th e vessel h a d stopped
1 3 5
ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES.
Ap p.] Co s m o p o l it a n Sh ip p in g Co. ( In c.) p. Ha t t o n a n d Co o k s o n Li m. ( Liv e r p o o l). [App7 le a k in g , b u t t h a t a d iv e r s h o u ld be e m p lo y e d to
e x a m in e th e b o tto m , a n d re c o m m e n d in g c e rta in w o r k to be done on h e r. Som e 13501. was s p e n t o n h e r re p a irs ; th e d iv e r lo c a te d th e le a k a n d co n s id e ra b le c a u lk in g was done, a go od c o a t o f c o p p e r p a in t was p u t o v e r th e lo w e r se c tio n o f th e h u ll, th e cargo was re lo a d e d , a n d o n 6 th N o v . 1918, a fin a l c e r ti
fic a te was g iv e n :
A n d a fte r a c a re fu l a n d m in u te e x a m in a tio n fo u n d t h a t th e carg o re c o m m e n d e d t o be la n d e d in fo rm e r s u rv e y h a d been p u t b a c k in th e s h ip , re p a irs as re c o m m e n d e d c a rrie d o u t to th e m a s te r s s a tis fa c tio n , t w o n e w ga soline p u m p s in s ta lle d , vessel n o w m a k in g o n ly a s m a ll a m o u n t o f w a te r ; a n d w e c o n s id e r th e said schooner, R ostellan, t o be in f i t c o n d itio n a n d s u ffic ie n tly s e a w o rth y t o proceed to h e r p o r t o f d e s tin a tio n , th e B e lg ia n Congo, W e s t A fr ic a .”
She d id proceed on th e 17t,h N o v . 1918, h a d a n u n e v e n tfu l voya ge , w ith n o a p p re c ia b le leakage, a n d a r riv e d in s a fe ty w it h h e r cargo on th e A fr ic a n coa st, a r r iv in g a t B a n a n a , a t th e m o u th o f th e Congo, a t th e en d o f M a rc h . I n e n te rin g th e p o r t th e w in d d ro p p e d a n d th e vessel was c a rrie d b y th e c u r r e n t o n to th e S te lla B a n k , v a r io u s ly d e scrib ed as o f m u d o r sand. A tu g to w e d h e r o ff n e x t d a y ; th e re is no evidence o f h e r le a k in g in conse
quence o f th is S te lla B a n k g ro u n d in g .
A d iff ic u lt c o m m e rc ia l s itu a tio n th e n arose n o t d ir e c tly c o n ne cte d w it h th e seaw orthiness o f th e s h ip . B y h e r c o n tra c t o f a ffre ig h tm e n t she w as to d e liv e r h e r o u tw a r d carg o a t B o m a , a s h o rt d is ta n c e u p th e Congo. B u t th e r iv e r c u rre n t was so s tro n g t h a t a s a ilin g s h ip c o u ld u o t g e t to B o m a u n d e r h e r o w n sail, a n d th e t u g a n d lig h te r c o m p a n y w a n te d f 6501. to ta k e s h ip o r cargo to B o m a . P ro lo n g e d discussion w ith th e consignees oc c u rre d , th e vessel m e a n w h ile ly in g a t B a n a n a w it h h e r cargo o n b o a rd . A ls o th e t u g s ta rte d a c la im to r salvage. T h e re was a g e n e ra l average c o n trib u tio n to be o b ta in e d fr o m th e consignees
° t th e o u tw a rd carg o, fo r th e p o r t o f refug e expenses. T h e re s u lt was t h a t M ille r , w ith th e a p p ro v a l o f th e ow ners, p u t B is h o p in co m m a n d o f th e vessel a n d d e v o te d h im s e lf JUainly to these d iffic u ltie s , w h ic h c u lm in a te d jn litig a t io n in th e lo c a l C o u rts . T h e vessel
« iy a t B a n a n a s ix ty -s e v e n da ys ; h e r discha rge
" t B a n a n a b e g in n in g o n 2 1 s t J u n e 1919 a n d
«ru sh in g o n 7 th J u ly . I t was in te n d e d to c h a rte r h e r, b u t she was u ltim a t e ly p u t on th e e rth t o lo a d p a lm o il a n d p a lm k e rn e ls a t a b in d a a n d L a n d a n a , tw o places o n th e f ° as^ th e n o r th o f th e Congo. She s ta rte d
* 1_ L a b in d a o n th e 4 t h A u g ., b u t a g ain, o w in g th e w in d d ro p p in g , g o t o n t o th e S te lla B a n k ,
«ere she re m a in e d u n t il th e 7 th A u g ., w h e n snu '7aS ^he B a n k , b y h e r o w n gear, 8th A f ° r a n d a r r iv e d a t C a b in d a o n th e ... *1 A u g . She is n o t re c o rd e d as m a k in g a n y a te r, o th e r th a n th e s lig h t “ seepage ” w h ic h haaI7 v WO° den s h iP m a k e s - A f t e r discha rge she
a th e u s u a l o v e rh a u l. A c e rtific a te o f fitne ss
t o lo a d cargo w as g iv e n h e r b y th e c h ie f p ilo t a n d h is a s s is ta n t on 2 0 th J u ly . T h e re was a s im ila r c e rtific a te b e fo re she lo a d e d carg o a t C a b in d a . She lo ad ed carg o a t C a b in d a in th e open sea, th e s h ip p e r a n d F e a th e rs to n e , th e s h ip p e r a n d s h ip ’ s a g e n t, b e in g c o n s ta n tly on b o a rd , a n d th e la tt e r a c tin g as in te r p r e te r be tw e e n B is h o p a n d th e w o rk m e n lo a d in g . She th e n proceeded t o L a n d a n a a n d ag a in lo ad ed in th e open sea, re tu rn e d t o C a b in d a on th e 2 3 rd O c t. a n d le f t on h e r v o y a g e on th e 3 0 th O c t. 1919. T h e re is no evidence t h a t she was le a k in g a t a ll d u r in g th e w h o le o f h e r s ta y o n th e coast. T h e re is evide nce t h a t, to an e x te n t w h ic h i t appears to m e im p o s s ib le t o d e te rm in e , w o rm s h a d b o re d in to h e r p la n k in g .
T h e T ered o w o rm , v e r y p re v a le n t in tr o p ic a l w a te rs , a t a c e rta in stage o f its life flo a ts o n th e surface a n d i f i t flo a ts a g a in s t a s h ip m a y b o re a v e r y s m a ll h o le in to th e side. O nce in , Jt bores a n d gro w s a n d u ltim a t e ly has m ad e a v e r y con sid e ra b le tu n n e l a n d a tta in e d to a v e r y con sid erab le size. I f m a n y g e t in , th e w o o d m a y becom e so fra g ile a n d ho n e yco m b e d as to g iv e w a y . T h e progress o f d e te rio ra tio n som e tim es is ra p id , a n d th re e m o n th s m a y d e s tro y th e w o od . T h e sh ip o w n e rs c a lle d as a w itn e s s th e L o n d o n s u rv e y o r t o th e N o rw e g ia n V e rita s fo r w o od en vessels fo r t w e n ty -fiv e years, a fte r b e in g eig h te e n years m a s te r o f s a ilin g vessels. H e said t h a t y o u g e n e ra lly fo u n d signs o f w o rm s in a n y w o od en s h ip t h a t h a d been in tr o p ic a l w a te rs , a n d unless th e signs w ere v e r y con sid e ra b le he w o u ld n o t re g a rd th e m as serious in h is s u rv e y . M a n y w o o d e n ships w ere c o p p e r b o tto m e d t o p r o te c t th e m a g a in s t tr o p ic a l w o rm s , m a n y w ere n o t. C o pper p a in t was also used a lo n g th e w a te rlin e , w h ic h p ro te c te d th e t im b e r f o r a s h o rt tim e . I n h is v ie w s ix m o n th s w o u ld n o t be en ou gh fo r serious dam age t o de ve lo p .
T h e R ostellan s ta rte d h o m e w a rd o n th e 3 0 th O c t. W e h a v e th e a d v a n ta g e o f a lo g c a re fu lly k e p t b y P eters, th e c h ie f m a te , in a n e d u c a te d h a n d w r itin g , a n d a p p a re n tly re c o rd in g e v e ry e v e n t o f im p o rta n c e . F ro m th e 3 0 th O c t.
to th e 2 4 th D e c., n e a rly f if ty - f iv e days, th e vessel is n o t re c o rd e d as m a k in g a n y w a te r w o r th m e n tio n in g . I n fa c t th e re is o n ly one e n t r y o n th e s u b je c t on th e 1 4 th N o v ., w h e n th e s h ip is reco rd e d as m a k in g 3 inches a d a y , n o th in g u n d e r 2 inches a n h o u r b e in g o f a n y im p o rta n c e .
T h e o n ly w e a th e r to be n o tic e d is th e h e a v y sw e ll, w it h s h ip r o llin g b a d ly o c c a s io n a lly m e n tio n e d . T h e s h ip c a u g h t th e so u th e a st tra d e s o n th e 1st D e c., a n d th e y la s te d t i l l a b o u t th e 1 6 th D e c., w h e n she crossed th e lin e , a n d appears t o h a v e e n te re d th e D o ld ru m s , a s tre tc h o f sea o f v a r y in g size, be tw ee n th e s o u th -e a s t a n d n o rth -e a s t tra d e w in d s . T h is re g io n , th e t e r r o r o f th e o ld s a ilin g s h ip da ys, is c h a ra c te ris e d b y calm s a n d v e r y s lig h t b a fflin g w in d s fro m e v e ry d ire c tio n , co u p le d w ith h e a v y sw ells caused b y th e a d jo in in g tra d e w in d s .
1 3 6
Ap p.] Co s m o p o l it a n Sh i p p i n g Co. ( In c.) v. Ha t t o n a n d Co o k s o n Li m. ( Li v e r p o o l). [ Ap p. I n th is vo ya g e , o n th e f ir s t f if t y - f iv e days
da m age is re c o rd e d o n seve ral occasions t o th e sails, p a r tic u la r ly t o th e s p a n k e r, b u t a lw a y s in h e a v y s w e ll. O th e rw is e th e re is n o th in g o f im p o rta n c e in th e f if t y - f iv e d a y s ’ v o y a g e t i l l th e in c id e n t o f th e 2 4 th D e c ., w h ic h is o f c a rd in a l im p o rta n c e in th e case. T h e re appears t o m e n o th in g t o suggest u n sea w orthine ss o n th e fir s t f if t y - f iv e da ys o f th e vo ya g e , a n d I n o w com e to th e b re a k in g o f th e ru d d e r o n th e 2 4 th D ec., th e cause o f w h ic h in m y v ie w is th e v it a l p o in t in th e case. L o o k in g a t th e lo g , o n th e a fte r n o o n o f th e 2 3 rd D e c., th e re was n o w in d , b u t a h e a v y sw e ll, a n d th e sails w ere eased. T h is c o n tin u e d o n th e m o rn in g o f th e 2 4 th , a n d th e jib s w ere ta k e n d o w n to ease th e m . T h e sea in creased fr o m th e n o rth -e a s t ; s t ill no w in d , a n d a ll o r d in a r y sails w ere ta k e n do w n , a n d o n ly tw o s to rm try s a ils set o n th e tw o a f t m asts.
“ N o o n — h e a v y sea s tr u c k vessel o n s ta rb o a rd q u a r te r a n d c a rrie d a w a y ru d d e r. Vessel r o llin g h e a v ily a n d s ta r tin g to le a k .”
N e x t m o rn in g she was le a k in g 6 inches an h o u r, w h ic h is serious. She h a d s tro n g w in d s a n d h e a v y seas f o r some da ys w h ile th e y w ere m a k in g a n d rig g in g th e j u r y ru d d e r a n d r o llin g in th e tr o u g h o f th e sea, b u t b y th e 2 n d J a n . th e leakage h a d d ro p p e d to 3 inches a n h o u r, w h ic h th e p u m p s h a d n o d if f ic u lt y in d e a lin g w ith . I t is d iff ic u lt t o m a k e o u t e x a c tly w h a t h a pp en ed, w h e th e r th e ru d d e r b ro k e a w a y f r o m th e ru d d e r p o s t, in w h ic h case th e gudgeons m u s t h a v e p u lle d o u t o f th e w o o d , o r th e ru d d e r p o s t b ro k e a w a y fr o m th e s te rn p o s t, in w h ic h case th e fa s te n in g o f th e p in tle s m u s t h a v e gone. T h e s h ip w as n o t f u ll y la d e n in w e ig h t, 1,100 to n s o f carg o, a g a in s t 1,500 to n s w h ic h c o u ld be c a rrie d , so t h a t m o re o f th e ru d d e r th a n u s u a l w o u ld be o u t o f w a te r, in w h ic h case, a c c o rd in g t o th e evidence, a h e a v y s w e ll c o u ld s m a c k a g a in s t i t . T h a t a ru d d e r s h o u ld b re a k in these c irc u m s ta n c e s is u n u s u a l, b u t th e p la in t if fs ’ s e a fa rin g w itnesses g iv e evid e n ce o f t h e ir o w n exp erience o f serious dam age done in c a lm w e a th e r b y a h e a v y s w e ll w h ic h does n o t b re a k as a w a v e . E v id e n c e was g iv e n a lo n g w h ile a fte r th e e v e n t o f e x a m in a tio n o f th e ru d d e r a n d no s ig n o f w o rm fo u n d , th o u g h w o rm h o le s are fo u n d in th e h u ll.
N e x t m o rn in g she was le a k in g 6 inches an h o u r, w h ic h is serious. She h a d s tro n g w in d s a n d h e a v y seas f o r some da ys w h ile th e y w ere m a k in g a n d rig g in g th e j u r y ru d d e r a n d r o llin g in th e tr o u g h o f th e sea, b u t b y th e 2 n d J a n . th e leakage h a d d ro p p e d to 3 inches a n h o u r, w h ic h th e p u m p s h a d n o d if f ic u lt y in d e a lin g w ith . I t is d iff ic u lt t o m a k e o u t e x a c tly w h a t h a pp en ed, w h e th e r th e ru d d e r b ro k e a w a y f r o m th e ru d d e r p o s t, in w h ic h case th e gudgeons m u s t h a v e p u lle d o u t o f th e w o o d , o r th e ru d d e r p o s t b ro k e a w a y fr o m th e s te rn p o s t, in w h ic h case th e fa s te n in g o f th e p in tle s m u s t h a v e gone. T h e s h ip w as n o t f u ll y la d e n in w e ig h t, 1,100 to n s o f carg o, a g a in s t 1,500 to n s w h ic h c o u ld be c a rrie d , so t h a t m o re o f th e ru d d e r th a n u s u a l w o u ld be o u t o f w a te r, in w h ic h case, a c c o rd in g t o th e evidence, a h e a v y s w e ll c o u ld s m a c k a g a in s t i t . T h a t a ru d d e r s h o u ld b re a k in these c irc u m s ta n c e s is u n u s u a l, b u t th e p la in t if fs ’ s e a fa rin g w itnesses g iv e evid e n ce o f t h e ir o w n exp erience o f serious dam age done in c a lm w e a th e r b y a h e a v y s w e ll w h ic h does n o t b re a k as a w a v e . E v id e n c e was g iv e n a lo n g w h ile a fte r th e e v e n t o f e x a m in a tio n o f th e ru d d e r a n d no s ig n o f w o rm fo u n d , th o u g h w o rm h o le s are fo u n d in th e h u ll.