Burrows v. Gower
Burrows v. Gower
Opinion of the Court
(after finding the Gower at fault); The Story I hold to blame for not sounding her fog horn until it was too late. Counsel for the libelee also contended that the signal she gave, one blast, was incorrect, as she was not “sailing,” in the ordinary sense of the word, but was rather lying to. I have therefore to consider what signal is required by the international rules' from a vessel lying to in a fog. The question calls for an examination of the rules in some detail.
The Story was under way, within the definition of the international rules. Mars. Mar. Coll. 405, 431; The Columbian, 100 Fed. 991, 41 C. C. A. 150. The Alfredo (D. C.) 30 Fed. 842, affirmed in (C. C.) 32 Fed. 240, was decided under the rules of 1885, which did not contain the existing definition. Act 1885, c. 354; 23 Stat. 438. If a vessel under way, with the wind on her starboard bow, is necessarily on the starboard tack, then the Story should have given one blast on her horn, whether she was making any headway or not. Apart from article 15, cl. “e,” the above is the correct construction of the international rules. • This appears from a comparison of clauses “a,” “b,” and “c.” Clause “a” deals with a steam vessel “having way upon her,”—a phrase carefully distinguished from the phrase “under way.” Clause “b” deals with a steam vessel “under way, but stopped, and having no way upon her,”—a phrase which indicates that a vessel “stopped and having no way upon her” is yet deemed to be “under way,” within the purview of article 15. Clause “c” deals with a sail
Decree for half damages and costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BURROWS v. GOWER
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Collision—Fog Signals—Sailing Vessel Lying To. A sailing vessel lying to in a fog, hut having some of her sails up, is “under way,” and is governed by article 15, cl. “c,” of the international navigation rules, and where the wind is on her starboard how she is on the starboard tack, and the proper fog signal is one blast. ¶1. Signals of meeting vessels, see note to The New York, 30 O. C. A. 630.