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.