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.