THE "EMPIRE BRENT."

(1947) 81 Ll.L.Rep. 306

ADMIRALTY DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Willmer, sitting with Commodore R. L. F. Hubbard and Captain W. R. Chaplin, Elder Brethren of Trinity House.

Collision - River - Narrow channel rule - Crossing rule - Collision between steamships Stormont and Empire Brent in River Mersey-Stormont bound up; Empire Brent bound down-Green of Empire Brent seen by Stormont approximately ahead-Porting by Stormont (no signal being sounded)-Green of Stormont seen by Empire Brent (according to her witnesses) on her port bow-Vessels then three-quarters of a mile apart-Starboarding by Empire Brent, signal being sounded -Further porting by Stormont, signal then being sounded-Further cross-signals exchanged-Engines of Empire Brent then put astern-Impact between stem of Empire Brent and starboard side aft of Stormont - Stormont beached, subsequently becoming total loss-Whether (1) assuming the green of the Stormont was open on the port bow of the Empire Brent, the Empire Brent was in breach of the crossing rule in starboarding; (2) assuming the vessels were green to green and in safety, the Empire Brent was to blame for starboarding-Collision Regulations, Art. 25.