Case Name: THE OWEN J. McWILLIAMS
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1914-05-25
Citations: 215 F. 394
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE OWEN J. McWILLIAMS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 215
Pages: 394–395

Head Matter:
THE OWEN J. McWILLIAMS.
(District Court, E. D. New York.
May 25, 1914.)
Collision (§ 71 )—Tows—Maneuvering to Reach Pier.
A tug, which bad taken boats from tbe tow of another, held in fault for a collision for failing to allow the other tow sufficient room to maneuver in placing her tow at a pier.
[Ed. Note.—Eor other cases, see Collision, Cent. Dig. § 101; Dec. Dig. § 71. ]
In Admiralty. Suit by Olaf Dahl against the steam tug Owen J. McWilliams.
Decree for libelant.
Hyland & Zabriskie, of New York City, for libelant.
Herbert Green, of New York City, for claimant.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
CHATFIEED, District Judge
(orally). The McWilliams tow, having taken boats out of the Pennsylvania tow, and swung them around on the outside near the mouth of the Newtown creek, would seem to be the burdened vessel. \
I think that the libelant's injury, although it happened without any actual carelessness, and purely from the inability of the captain of the McWilliams tug to estimate just how much room he should allow to the other vessel, was caused by the maneuver of the Pennsylvania tug in warping its boats around the dock so as to bring them in on tlie lower side, thus requiring more room against the flood tide than if it had been landing them on the upper side of the dock. If the responsibility for allowing room for this maneuver rested upon the McWilliams, then the resulting damage must be borne by them.
The libelant may have a decree.