Document: 389 U.S. 191 88 S.Ct. 379 19 L.Ed.2d 407 WYANDOTTE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY et al., Petitioners,v.UNITED STATES. No. 31. Argued Oct. 16 and 17, 1967. Decided Dec. 4, [Syllabus from pages 191-192 intentionally omitted] Lucian Y. Ray, Cleveland, Ohio, for petitioners. Alan S. Rosenthal, Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr. Justice FORTAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 Two cases, consolidated by trial court raising related issues, are here involved. In United States v. Cargill, Inc., Government asked that parties responsible allegedly negligent sinking a vessel in an inland waterway be declared removing impediment to navigation thus created. Wyandotte Transportation Co. had itself removed sunken vessel; claiming been negligently sunk, it sought reimbursement costs removal. The question now before us decision is whether relief requested these cases available States. 2 District Court Eastern Louisiana concluded such not available. After were consolidated, granted summary judgment against each instance. decided has no personam rights those having sunk vessel. its view, limited rem right cargo itself. 1964 A.M.C. 1742. 3 Appeals Fifth Circuit reversed. It held under Rivers Harbors Act 1899, 30 Stat. 1151 seq., as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 401 may assert rights—to injunctive or declaratory damages—against 367 F.2d 971 (1966). Because conflict among circuits because important regarding interpretation statute States, we certiorari. 386 906, 87 854, 17 781 (1967). We affirm below. 4 crucial facts both occurred March 1961. Cargill libel alleges that, at time, supertanker bound up Mississippi Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collided with two barges moored tug. owned petitioner Cargo Carriers, Jeffersonville Boat Machine Co., respectively. was notified immediately after accident sunk. A few days later, served notice being abandoned. refused, however, accept abandonment assume responsibility wrecks. Docember 1962, brought suit owners, managers, charterers, insurers barges, seeking decree respondents vessels. charged negligence equipping, manning, mooring caused sinking. To this date, involved case remain Mississippi. 5 founded on more dramatic. barge loaded 2,200,000 pounds liquid chlorine sank while pushed near Vidalia, Louisiana. Wyandotte, owner barge, first made some attempts locate raise wreck. But then, November 1961, informed Army Corps Engineers believed further efforts would unsuccessful. stated abandoning began study danger posed substantial load bottom feared if any escaped, form lethal gas, which might cause large number casualties. demanded remove barge. refused do this.'1 6 then moved avert catastrophe locating deadly cargo. October President proclaimed presence major disaster Disaster Relief Act, 64 1109, 42 §§ 1855—1855g. Safety precautions grand scale taken, team experienced divers gingerly Wyandotte's These operations, coating $3,081,000, proved successful. 7 owners operators reimburse expenses. This demand rejected. January 1963, suit, her cargo,2 boat pushing when sank, cargo.3 fault design, towing, mooring, equipping incurred wreck.4 I. 8 Although advanced several discrete grounds affirmance, pause examine them.5 agree 15 409, read light our Republic Steel Corp., 362 482, 80 884, 903 (1960), controls issues presented. Section reads relevant part follows: 9 'It shall lawful * voluntarily carelessly sink, permit vessels other craft navigable channels *. And whenever vessel, raft wrecked channel, accidentally otherwise, duty mark buoy beacon during day lighted lantern night, maintain marks until abandoned, neglect failure said so unlawful; commence immediate removal same, prosecute diligently, considered craft, subject same provided sections 411—416, 418, 502 title.' 409. 10 Petitioners dispute, indeed they could not, falls within prohibition above-quoted clause 15.6 They contend, contains specific remedies violation 15, meant Congress exclusive all others. point craft. note 'shall States.' petitioners call attention 20 414, 415, set forth procedure whereby as' abandoned 15. provides exists obstruction waters period longer than days, can legally established shorter broken up, removed, sold, otherwise disposed Secretary his discretion, without liability damage same.' That section contemplates '(t)hat money received sale wreck covered into Treasury 414. 20, emergency provision applicable only obstructs 'in manner stop, seriously interfere with, specially endanger navigation,' similar structure 19.7 11 Finally, emphasize criminal penalties '(e)very person every corporation violate, knowingly aid, abet, authorize, instigate provisions (of 15).' 411.8 out 12 406, violations 10, 403,9 expressly authorizes remedy. argue lack authorization should taken mean did intend able obtain what is, effect, remedy 15.10 position therefore, require it; expect him forfeit interest proceeds possesses sell retain sales.11 Moreover, proceed criminally, 16, But, argue, more. Under their very detail negates possibility intended recover expenses exceeding value apply analysis government action relief. Indeed, believe injunction another, analogous, indicates congressional intent withhold means enforcing 15.12 13 agree. Petitioners' 1899 ascribe variance purpose statute. proposal moreover, disharmony own prior construction decisions analogous statutory construction, maritime If there reasonable statute, adduce persuasive indication accords intent, interpretation. reading does lead conclusion must have procedures There anywhere else—in legislative history predecessor statutes, nonstatutory law—that party who sinks shielded personal responsibility. therefore hold specified enforcement exclusive. Applying principles Steel, conclude remedies, including sought, Government. II. 14 Article I, 8, Constitution grants power regulate commerce. For exercise power, deemed 'public property nation, requisite legislation Congress.' Gilman City Philadelphia, Wall. 713, 725, 18 L.Ed. 96 Federal ensuring waterways, like routes commerce over assumed control, free obstruction. Cf. re Debs, 158 564, 586, 900, 907, 39 1092 (1895). assertion sovereign Sanitary Chicago 266 405, 45 176, 69 352 (1925), obviously prevent obstructions Nation's waterways. Despite difficulties wording consistently found coverage broad. See, e.g., supra; (1960).13 principal beneficiary beneficiary, supra, 492, 890. Our established, too, general rule sue protect interests. Cotton How. 229, 675 (1851); San Jacinto Tin 125 273, 850, 31 747 (1888); supra. necessarily inapplicable particular governmental protected expressed carrying violation. involving civil actions private based penal indicate. Texas & Pacific R. Rigsby, 241 33, 36 60 874 (1916); J. Case Borak, 377 426, 84 1555, 423 (1964).14 inadequate ensure full effectiveness intended. plaintiffs fell class protect, harm type forestall, proper. accordance law torts. See Restatement (Second) Torts 286. see reason distinguish Government, deprive benefit rule. inadequacy explicitly beyond dispute. meager monetary penalties. many here, combination fines Government's serve true also prison terms, but punishment hardly satisfactory pecuniary injury shipowner inflict upon sovereign. Acme Process Equipment 385 138, 350, 249 process reasoning underlay (1960). concerned deposit industrial solids which, believed, created 'obstruction capacity' meaning Act. seek compel obstruction, even though nowhere specifically authorized 12, category (structures), exclude injunctions types obstructions. referring noted 'Congress legislated clear; enough federal appropriate fashioned rest inferences. Otherwise impute futility inconsistent great design legislation.' U.S., S.Ct., approach instant context apply, analogy, us.15 may, order rectifying wrong done Denial result, extraordinary jurisprudence, wrongdoer shifting consequences onto victim. commission act. ensures think correctly divine inferring availability small step Perma Paving 332 754 (C.A.2d Cir. 1964). Having properly chosen lose place Restitution 115; Moran Towing 374 656, 667 (C.A.4th 1967). No issue propriety raised. surrounding constitute classic rapid someone essential. unwilling effectuate surprising situation, commendable performance expense. relieve Otherwise, financial penalty correct impediments waterways.16 758. note, Limitation Shipowners' Liability 1851, 635, 46 181 'for loss, damage, collision, act, matter, thing, forfeiture' 'the freight pending'; limitation act 'without privity knowledge owner.' 183. 'For fault, contracts remains liable.' American Car Foundry Brassert, 289 261, 264, 53 618, 619, 77 1162 (1933). create additional limitation, special himself negligent. Yet gave indication, passing alter qualify 1851 Act.17 connect find least evidence petitioners' discovery unwarranted.18 III. 21 contend despite silence point, them simply abandon vessels, support absolute abandonment. most reliance, final creates 'duty (a) diligently.' 'failure (19 20),' consequences. imposed prescribed Those 'whenever *.' Unlike sinking, non-negligent unlawful. seems highly unlikely Congress, intentional crime, employ indirect language grant culpable immunity crime. 22 chooses so. Zubik 190 278 (C.A.3d 1951); Gulf Coast Transp. Ruddock-Orleans Cypress 858 (D.C.E.D.La.1927). speaks discretion break remove, sell, dispose obstructed negate proviso states indicate receive monies. At most, establishes proposition wreck, monies received.19 section, closely parallels 19. adds nothing argument.20 23 claim body insulated liability.21 codify claim. modern courts existence common-law rule, see, 1967); Bethlehem 319 512, 518—519 (C.A.9th 1963), evaporates close analysis.22 embody illusory law. IV. 24 motions judgment. reversed remanded proceedings. As noted, libels theory negligence, award called determination acts various constituted negligence. disposition. 25 Affirmed. 26 MARSHALL took consideration case. 27 HARLAN, concurring. 28 I concur Court's holding entitled action. affording latter my understanding purport decide compelling removal, left answered development facts, normal standards equity. 29 reaching conclusions, unmindful view me dictum dissenting 493, 891, 903, effect precluded supplying Insofar encompass present case, where, contrary afforded fairly implied candor say ill-founded. On premises join dispute ever agreed owner's cognizant resolution unnecessary. pass asserted once right, Upon motion ordered containers sold paid pending disposition litigation. $85,000. sum. n. infra. petition rehearing, affirmed entered favor Union Carbide chlorine, ground allegation proof part. us. Of approximately $1,565,000 engineering costs; remainder, $1,516,000, public health safety measures, necessary possible rupture salvage operations. course, questions them. Thus, intimate capacity States,' prohibited 403. rested decision. assess Appeals' nor applies 10. Nor, finally, nuisance basis Mayor, etc. Georgetown Alexandria Canal Pet. 91, 97, 1012 (1838); Hall, 63 F. 472, 474 (C.A.1st 1894); Ella, (1915) P. 111 (1914); Comment, Substantive Remedial Problems Preventing Interferences Navigation: Case, 59 Col.L.Rev. 1065, 1067 (1959); Wisdom, Obstructions Rivers, 119 Just. 846 (1955). either existed cf. Willamette Iron Bridge Hatch, 1, 811, 814, 629 486, 887, (1960); exist, survived series enactments beginning 1890, 454, obstructing waters. bears emphasis careless Negligence sole recovery libels. Questions forbidden relief, any, situation. applicability Army, agent whom delegate proper authority.' Once made, 'take possession' 'so far destroy clear immediately' waterway. Violation misdemeanor, punishable 'a fine $2,500 less $500, imprisonment (in natural person) thirty one year, imprisonment, 5, notes, regard contention exclusive, argues substantially weaker. 521 1963). owners. makes unnecessary contention. concede cargo, Brief Petitioners, p. fact clearly 19, 414; Salvage 228 F.Supp. 145 (D.C.S.D.N.Y.1964). 412. supported similarly broad readings statutes predating one. Rio Grande Dam Irrigation 174 690, 770, 43 1136 (1899). North Bloomfield Gravel Min. 664, 678—679 1898). Dann Studebaker-Packard 288 201, 208—209 (C.A.6th 1961); Reitmeister Reitmeister, 162 691, 694 1947). 'if available, navigability channel impaired repeatedly paying (by 12), would, operating license.' 29; 518 distinction will do, three reasons. First, include term. 523 1963) (dissenting opinion). Second, practice deterrent well worthwhile risk rather take measure tows. Third, proposed concentrates future Act; explain mandatory already time suit. argument exclusivity stronger here. (but process) applies. noting funds spent operations 1855—1855g, expenditures parties. agree, misses point. 1899. contrary. passage principle contending much liability, known almost 50 years administrative regulation promulgated Department permits sink compelled pay removal.' CFR 209.410. origins go back 1901. Letter William Cary Sanger, Acting War, L. Hughes, July 31, 490, 889, unfair. 41 Tulane L.Rev. 459, 464, know he believes greater cost created, himself. concludes expense aforesaid charge cargo; thereof fail refuse notification, officer destroyed rely heavily phrase cargo.' recover. merely describes lien 671 1967) Such because, terms given exceeds appear extent appears pre-existing House conferees 'codification existing laws pertaining rivers harbors, containing essential changes law.' 32 Cong.Rec. 2923 (1899); 887. scant. Acts themselves lend 1880, 180; 1882, 191; 426. speaking trace Winpenny Chedester 65 Pa. 135 (1870). Manhattan, (D.C.E.D.Pa.1935); Pennsylvania Supreme 'owner vessel) absolutely liable hulk.' Pa., 138. proposition, cited treatises five English cases. good authority. King Watts, Esp. 675, 170 Eng.Rep. 493 (1798), indictment Thames maintained 'it adding calamity guard, prevent.' cited, one, Shearman Redfield 3d ed. 1869), 583 '(i)t settled waters, him, obligation 'well-settled' Watts. 'rule' propose. court, above quoted passage, went 'There seem reasons When lost God, accident, suffers oftentimes she becomes total hardship add misfortune discourage severe duty; engage trade, if, forced incur original difficult position? property, fall public, interested navigation, him.' Cases Highland Nav. 582 (D.C.S.D.N.Y.1957), affirmed, 37 1928); Bridgeport Line, 240 D.C.D.Conn.1926), unsupported dicta own, Barraclough Brown, (1897) A.C. 615 (construing Aire Calder Navigation 1889 (52 Vict., c. 32).

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