THE "SUSAN V. LUCKENBACH."

(1950) 84 Ll.L.Rep. 318

ADMIRALTY DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Pilcher, sitting with Captain C. St. G. Glasson and Captain K. McM. Drake, Elder Brethren of Trinity House.

Salvage-Grounding after being holed by collision-Colliding vessel to blame- Salving vessels in same ownership as colliding vessel-Right of recovery- Circuity of action-Services rendered by H.M. tug Confederate and H.M.S. Arpha to steamship Susan V. Luckenbach in Gulf of Suez-Susan V. Luckenbach grounded in exposed position after collision with steamship Nea Hellas-Bad weather-Unsuccessful attempts made by Confederate to refloat by fixing patches to damaged hull of Susan V. Luckenbach and pumping out flooded compartments-Vessel subsequently refloated after jettisoning 700 tons of fuel oil and towed to less exposed position-Patching then effectively carried out and vessel towed by Confederate to safe anchorage in Suez Roads-Steam supplied by Arpha to Susan V. Luckenbach during salvage operations, men also being put on board to assist-Salvage claims brought by Admiralty (as owners of Confederate and Arpha) and by commanding officer and crew of Arpha-Services of commanding officer and crew of Arpha admitted-Plea by defendants that Crown, in the name of the Admiralty, was disentitled to recover as a salvor owing to the fact that it was also, in the name of M.W.T., owner of Nea Hellas, which vessel had been found solely to blame for the collision making the salvage services necessary-Further plea that a salvage award to the Crown would involve circuity of action- Services occupying 44 days-Whether unduly prolonged by salvors, in that they attempted to patch and refloat vessel in an exposed position and failed to empty fuel tank sooner- Confederate, a Danish salvage tug manned by Danish officers under requisition to Admiralty-Right of Admiralty to recover on basis of professional salvors.