THE "STELLING" AND THE "FERRANTI."

(1942) 72 Ll.L.Rep. 177

ADMIRALTY DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Langton, sitting with Captain P. N. Layton and Captain S. St. G. Glasson, Elder Brethren of Trinity House.

Collision - River - Fairway - Interaction - Collision between plaintiffs' steamship Sheaf Water and first defendants' steamship Stelling in Erith Reach, River Thames- Sheaf Water bound down; Stelling bound up - Second defendants' steamship Ferranti, originally on starboard quarter of Sheaf Water, also bound down- Sheaf Water's case that she first observed the Stelling approaching on the starboard bow; that starboard helm signals were exchanged; that at the material time the Ferranti, which was overhauling the Sheaf Water, passed or attempted to pass her at an improper time and in an improper manner; that the Sheaf Water, by reason of interaction between her and the Ferranti, failed to answer her starboard helm; that she accordingly sounded a port helm signal to the Stelling; but that the Stelling came on without altering her course and collided with the starboard side of the Sheaf Water, damaging her and necessitating salvage assistance- Sheaf Water beached - Damage to jetty and dolphin due to slipping off shore- Whether a consequence of collision- Expert evidence as to interaction- Meaning of "fairway" in river- Whether Stelling coming up river in her wrong water- Port of London River By-Laws, 1938, Rules 38, 39.