Court Opinion

ID: 8791537
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 13:53:06.41648+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:03:23.047529
License: Public Domain

COXE, Circuit Judge
(after stating the facts as above). On February 26, 1910, the tug Robert Robinson made up a tow at Whitestone in three tiers of two boats each, destined for New Haven. The Derby was on the port side in the last tier. She was properly manned and loaded with coal. She was 90 feet long, 26 feet beam, had a freeboard .of about 14 inches and hatch coamings of 30 inches, making the tap *719of the coaming about 3 feet 8 inches above the water. She had no covers over her hatches. She was what is called an “open boat” with about 17 feet between the coamings. Early the next morning when off Penfield Light the weather'was good and though there was a dead roll on the sea, there was no indication of a serious storm. When off Stratford Point the master of the tug thought it prudent to seek shelter at Bridgeport. The wind was blowing fresh from the southwest. After turning around the Derby was .the weather boat. When a little over a mile from Bridgeport Harbor she sank. Negligence is charged against the Robinson in not proceeding directly from Penfield Light to Bridgeport, but we think the District Judge was correct in holding that there was no reason to apprehend danger when they passed Penfield Light. There was no dangerous sea at that time and no necessity for going into Bridgeport. It' was three or four hours after passing Pen-field before they encountered seas 5 or 6 feet high. Burke, the master of the Derby, says that prior to the turn to enter Bridgeport Harbor, “no sea came on the deck, not a bit of water.” We cannot find from the testimony that it was a fault for the tug to proceed on her voyage after passing Penfield Light. We think that when, three or four hours later, the weather became so threatening that it was doubtful if the flotilla could weather Stratford Point, the Robinson cannot be criticised for seeking shelter in Bridgeport Harbor.
The Robinson .was powerful enough to handle such a tow, the testimony being that her usual tow is from 8 to 12 boats; in the present case she had but six.
We do not think the tug can be held liable for half the damages because the Derby was unseaworthy. There was nothing about her construction, her loading or starting with covers off which was unusual or negligent. When the tow was made up no unusual condition of the elements was to be apprehended and there was no negligence apparent in the make-up of the tow. Nothing need be added to the opinion of the District Judge on this branch of the case.
The decree is affirmed with costs.