China Union Lines, Ltd., and Ss Union Star v. States Steamship Company, a Corporation

In the morning of August 26, 1960, in the mouth of the Saigon River, about one mile from shore, China Union Lines’ motor vessel, The Union Star, registered "by the Republic of China, was in collision with appellee’s steam turbine-driven vessel Illinois, registered by the United States. Each vessel sustained substantial damage. A libel was filed by appellee in 1963 in the District Court for the Northern District of California, a cross-libel was filed by appellants, and the cause was tried in 1965.

The district court found that both vessels failed to maintain a proper lookout, that the lack of timely and accurate information and knowledge as to the movements of the other vessel on the part of both vessels contributed to the ensuing collision, that both were equally at fault and contributed equally to the collision, and that, in accordance with Vietnam law, the total damages under the International Rules of the Road should be divided equally. A final decree was entered December 1, 1965, holding that the appellee sustained damages from the collision of $48,273.09, that appellants sustained damages of $6,398.14, and that the appellee should recover from the appellants the amount of…