The Bamcell II - Supreme Court of Canada (Ritchie, Dickson, McIntyre, Chouinard and Wilson JJ.) - 27 September 1983

Marine insurance - Whether loss caused by a peril of the seas

The Bamcell II was a vessel of unique design. Originally a barge, she has been converted to perform as a floating platform. She was partially open to the sea on her bottom and was kept afloat by an airtight deck. She sank when a member of her crew opened the deck valves to let out the air trapped in the hull so that the stern would settle, and then negligently permitted a valve or valves to remain open.