5 F. 213 | S.D.N.Y. | 1880
This is an application by the master and part of the crew of the steam-ship Plainmeller for an apportionment of the salvage in the case of The Adirondack, 2 Fed. Rep. 387, 872. It is shown, on the part of the owners of the Plainmeller, that they incurred some expenses, by reason of the salvage service, which should be first re-imbursed to them out of the amount paid. They are: For port charges in New York, about $275; extra coal, $250; captain’s expenses, $60; and some other trifling' expenses. They ask to be allowed, also, for law expenses in the trial of the suit— some $750; charges of their agents for attending to the business of the suit; and some $400 for repairs. As to these expenses, it was not shown upon the hearing, and is not now shown, that the towage service made any repairs necessary, and the law expenses incurred were, in my judgment, mainly unnecessary, as the,Adirondack offered to pay all that was properly due for the service rendered. These charges ought not, therefore, to be taken into account in apportioning the salvage; 'and, under all the circumstances, I think that $750 will be a full indemnity to the owners of the vessel for their expenses and loss by reason of the salvage service. This is all for which they have any just claim on the master and crew for re-imbursement. Deducting this, sum, there remains $6,750 to bé apportioned between the vessel and the master and crew. The owners of the vessel urge that the vessel was the .principal salvor, and that the service of the master and
A proper apportionment in the present ease will, I think, be three-fifths of the $6,750 to the owners of the steamer, as the principal salvor, and two-fifths to the master and crew, as follows: Three hundred dollars to the master, and the residue among the officers and crew, including the master, in proportion to their respective wages; the shares of the master and crow to be free from all charges for law expenses or other charges incurred by the owners.
An extra share is asked for the chief engineer, but I see iio sufficient ground for giving it.
It appears that the owners have taken assignments from some of the crew, who have not yet appeared to make a claim for their shares. The amounts actually paid those men may be considered as paid on account of their shares, and re-imbursed to the owners. The residue of their shares will remain in the registry to await their application for it. The owners cannot thus extinguish the claims of seamen.
Decree accordingly.