AUSTRALIAN LINER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN LINER

NARROW ESCAPE. Some details of what''might hare been a nasty ■ collision in the Suez Canal between the Orient liner , Ormuz and the Anchor liner Assyria, transpired in the Admiralty Court recently, when Mr Justice Bucknill, sitting with the Trinity Masters, delivered judgment in action brought by the owners of the Assyria to recover in respect of damage suffered by them, as alleged, owing to the negligent navigation of the Ormuz. It. appeared that on Mav 4th last both vessels were proceeding along the Great Bitter Lake, making for the entrance to the Suez Canal at the southern end of the lake. The plaintiff's case was that the Assyria was leading, and had slowed down for the purpose of entering the canal when the Ormuz overtook her and starboarded across her bows. In order to avoid a;collision between the two vessels the Assyria went astern with her engines. She avoided the Ormuz, but touched the South Lighthouse with her port bow, knocking it over, and herself took the ground,* As a result. Hie Assyria was damaged. The defandants' case was that the Ormuz overtook and passed the Assyria, and was well ahead of that vessel when entering the canal. ■ The Assyria, defendants alleged, was at no time hampered or put into any position of difficulty by the navigation of the Ormuz. Alrernativelv the defendants pleaded that those on the Assyria were guilty of contributory negligence, Kis Lord«biu found that the Ormuz was not - justified in attempting to pass the Aesvria and that she should have allowed'the Assyria to enter the canal in advance- Further, he found that the Assyria, in acting as she did, adopted the’ onlv safe and’proper manoeuvre, ehc having beer placed in a position of great difficulty by the action of the Ormuz. Bv so acting the Assyria avoided collision with the Ormuz, and very nearly cleared the lighthouse, and she could not reasonaoly have done anything else. In his Lordship's opinion the Ormuz was to blame, in that she being 1 the overtaking ship neglected to keep

out of the way ot the Assyria. The lab tor vessel was navigated carefully and properly, and in no way contributed to the damage. Judgment was accordingly entered for the plaintiffs, with costs, the damages to be assessed.