Ocean Motorship Co. v. Hammond Lumber Co.

On the 12th of November, 1922, the steam schooner Haleo, under full cargo load and while proceeding down the Columbia river, came into collision with the motorship Challamba. The steam schooner Solano was being navigated at the time on the same course. The Haleo suffered considerable damage in her forward part, but was able to proceed down the river to Astoria without aid. The Challamba was slightly damaged. The owners of the Haleo filed a libel against both the Challamba and Solano. The latter vessels, by their owners, denied responsibility for the accident. Claimant Ocean Motorship Company, owner of the Challamba, filed a cross-libel against the Haleo and Solano.

The three vessels, fully loaded, had left their anchorage at Skamokawa, about 10 miles up the river, early that morning. The Haleo got away first and was about a mile and a half distant when the Solano followed. The Challamba came next behind the Solano. In length the ships measured, respectively: Solano, 215 feet; Challamba, 262.2 feet; the Haleo, 220 feet. The Challamba, *773 a twin screw motorboat, was the fastest, while the Solano had an advantage over the Haleo in speed of about a knot and a half. Each vessel was…