The Straits of Dover

Citations

• 120 F. 900
• 58 C.C.A. 86
• 1903 U.S. App. LEXIS 4551

Syllabus

<p>1 Collision — Steamships Crossing — Violation of Rules.</p> <p>The ocean steamships Bluefields and Straits of Dover both held in fault under the evidence for a collision in Chesapeake Bay in the night, while on crossing, but nearly parallel, courses, for violation of the inland navigation rules: The Bluefields primarily, because, seeing the red light of the Straits of Dover on her starboard bow, she was the burdened vessel, and required by articles 19, 22, and 23 of the act of Congress of June 7, 1897 [U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 2883], to keep out of the way, to avoid crossing ahead, and to slacken speed, or stop, or reverse, if necessary, and should have ported her helm, instead of which she continued her course and speed until across the bows of the Straits of Dover; the latter because she failed to keep her course and speed as required by article 21, or to give danger signals in accordance with article 18, rule 3, when the Bluefields persisted in her course and danger of collision was apparent, but instead ported her helm, and stopped and reversed, and without giving the signal indicating such fact required by article 28; none of which violations of the rules could be said not to have contributed to the collision, or to have been an error in extremis.</p>