Royal Navy of Italy v. Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, No. 5270

No. 5270 | 5th Cir. | Jul 6, 1928

FOSTER, Circuit Judge.

In this case there is very little, if any, dispute as to the material facts. The record supports the following conclusions as to these:

On November 11, 1924, at about 10 o’clock a. m., a collision occurred between the steamship Giove, owned by appellant, and the steamship M. F. Elliott, owned by appellee, in the Houston ship channel. At the place of collision the channel is from 150 to 200 feet wide on the bottom and 30 feet deep. The Elliott, drawing 28 feet 6 inches aft, was on her way to sea. The Giove, drawing about 15 feet aft, was proceeding to Houston. Both vessels were under their own power.

Owing to the narrowness of the channel and the danger of being pulled aground by suction, it is the local pilot custom for vessels navigating the channel under their own power to approach each other head on in the middle of the channel at half speed, and, when about a ship’s length apart, to put their helms hard aport and their engines full speed ahead, passing to the right very close together, sometimes actually brushing.

Both vessels were in charge of experienced, licensed pilots. The signals for passing were given and understood, and the vessels attempted to manceuver according to the •custom. The Elliott accomplished her part, but for some reason the Giove did not answer her helm promptly, or properly, and the collision occurred. The District Court found the Giove to be entirely at fault, and in this we concur.

Courts do not favor giving effect to local customs involving deviations from the pilot rules, but, when they are firmly established and well understood, an exception may be made. The Albert Dumois, 177 U. S. 240, 20 S. Ct. 595, 44 L. Ed. 751.

It is shown that it is not unusual for vessels navigating the Houston channel to be aided by tugs, and this is no doubt safer. When they elect to proceed under their own steam, they assume any risk incidental to the customary method of passing. Under the circumstances here disclosed, the passing could hardly have been accomplished in any other way, and there was no material violation of the pilot rules, as neither pilot considered a collision imminent. The Elliott could not have pulled over to the right any more than she did without danger of going aground from suction while the Giove, on account of her lighter draft, might have gone closer to her side of the channel. Had the Giove answered her helm promptly the collision would not have occurred.

For this she must be held responsible as her failure to execute the manceuver properly is not shown to have been -the result of inevitable accident.

Affirmed.