Crowley Launch & Tugboat Co. v. Wilmington Transp. Co.

This is an appeal from a final decree in admiralty holding solely at fault the American Tug Crowley No. 29, hereafter called Crowley, for damage done to the American Tug Milton S. Patrick, hereafter 'called Patrick, in a collision between the two tugs on November 10, 1938, in the main channel leading to the inner harbor of Los Angeles Harbor. The only claimed errors of the district court have to do with the navigation of the tugs. The Crowley was unharmed and the amount awarded the owners of the Patrick is not here questioned.

The two tugs were rivals in serving the vessels traversing and mooring in Los An-geles Harbor. The Crowley had sought and obtained the engagement to tow the inbound steamship Canonesa, and met her opposite the Southern Pacific slip when the steamer was proceeding under her own power in a general northerly direction in the main channel. The Canonesa was in the middle of the channel; the Crowley proceeded along the Canonesa’s port side. No question is raised as to fault on the Crowley’s part with reference to proceeding on her portside of the channel.

The maneuvers leading to the collision occurred between 5:30 and 5:45 in the morning, when the channel was…