Consolidation Coal Co. v. The Admiral Schley

Citations

• 115 F. 378
• 1902 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 224

Syllabus

<p>1. Collision — Navigation op Tug and Tow — Care Required.</p> <p>The navigation of a tug with tows at sea involves such danger of collision that the utmost care is required on the part of those in charge, and unusual maneuvers, which increase the danger, are not justified unless in case of necessity, and then extraordinary precaution should be taken.</p> <p>2. Same — Maneuvering with Tows — Dangerous Speed in Fog.</p> <p>A steamer with two coal barges in tow on a line, the whole about 2,000 feet in length, arrived at the Boston light-ship in a fog so dense as to render an attempt to enter the harbor unsafe. While waiting for the fog to clear away, the steamer moved about with her tows, making a number of turns across the usual course of vessels passing in or out of the port. As she was making such a turn, her fog signal was heard by a steamer coming out, which, coming within sight of the last tow, was misled as to the direction and course of the towing steamer until the two vessels were so near together that a collision resulted, although both then did all that was possible to prevent it. The outcoming steamer, having a full speed of 14 knots, was going at a speed of about 8 knots, which she kept until the other vessel was sighted. ■Held, that both steamers were in fault, — the first for unnecessarily moving around with her tows in a place where such maneuvers were dangerous under the circumstances, and without giving adequate warning of their position by the sounding of danger signals from all the vessels or otherwise; and the second for going at too great a speed in a fog, and for neglecting, in violation of the rules, to stop or slacken speed when the first signal was heard.</p>