Royal Insurance Company of America v Cineraria Shipping Company (The ""Kalliopi”) - US District Court (MD Florida) (Bucklew DJ) - 24 July 1995

General average - Vessel sustained steering gear damage whilst under pilotage manoeuvering from berth into channel - Vessel returned to berth for repairs - No actual danger to vessel - Whether incident was a general average event

The vessel loaded cargo at Tampa, Florida, and was manoeuvering out of her berth and into the channel under the orders of a pilot when she suffered a steering gear breakdown which was apparently caused by the pilot backing the vessel too far and striking the western bank of the channel with the rudder. The Master determined that the vessel could not proceed on her own, and she was returned to berth with tug assistance for further inspection. The vessel remained within the Tampa port with tug services readily available. The damage to the steering gear did not affect the hull, and there was no danger of entry of seawater into the vessel. Seas were calm, with winds of Force 3 or less.