THE "LARCHBANK."

(1942) 72 Ll.L.Rep. 219

COURT OF APPEAL.

Before Lord Justice MacKinnon, Lord Justice du Parcq and Mr. Justice Lewis, sitting with Rear-Admiral K. D. W. Macpherson and Captain G. Clarke, Nautical Assessors.

Collision - Convoy - Fog - Signals - Collision between motor vessels British Petrol and Larchbank in Irish Sea- British Petrol in convoy- Larchbank manoeuvring to join convoy astern of British Petrol- Vessels sighted by each other on approximately parallel courses, at a distance of about one mile, with Larchbank on port side of British Petrol - Visibility subsequently reduced to about a ship's length- Course and speed of British Petrol maintained, but no fog signal sounded - Hard-a-starboarding by Larchbank at speed- Contact between stem of British Petrol and starboard side of Larchbank - Admiralty Directions: "The use of whistles or sirens in a fog is undesirable. They are not to be sounded except in an emergency or on hearing another ship approaching, when the master must use his discretion."