THE "L.S.T. 303."

(1946) 80 Ll.L.Rep. 37

ADMIRALTY DIVISION.

Before Lord Merriman (President), sitting with Captain R. L. F. Hubbard and Captain C. St. G. Glasson, Elder Brethren of Trinity House.

Collision - River - Vessel emerging from dock - Look-out - Collision between motor vessel Eastern City and L.S.T. 303, in Gravesend Reach, River Thames, in broad daylight - Flood tide - Eastern City bound up on her own starboard side of mid-river; L.S.T. 303 emerging from tidal basin leading from Tilbury Docks - Long blast sounded by L.S.T. 303 on casting off, followed shortly afterwards by signal of "four and two" - Second signal admittedly heard by Eastern City - Significance of such signal - Masts and superstructure of L.S.T. 303 seen by Eastern City overland on her starboard bow - No steps taken by either vessel until they saw each other at close quarters across knuckle of entrance, when Eastern City went full ahead under hard-a-port helm and L.S.T. 303 starboarded - Impact between bows of L.S.T. 303 and starboard side of Eastern City - Attempt by Eastern City to regain her up-river heading by starboarding, followed by attempt to "snub herself round" on to a down-river course by dropping her anchors - Attempts unsuccessful, resulting in collision between Eastern City and barges on southern side of river - Whether consequence of first collision - Novus actus interveniens - Port of London River By-laws, 1938, Rule 30.