Empresa Lineas Maritimas Argentinas S.A. As Owner of the Motor Vessel Santa Cruz II v. United States

BUTZNER, Senior Circuit Judge:

The United States appeals from an order denying its claim for limitation of liability under 46 U.S.C. § 183(a) (1958). We affirm the judgment of the district court.

I

This suit arises out of a collision between the United States Coast Guard Cutter Cuyahoga and the Argentinian freighter, Santa Cruz II. How the collision occurred is undisputed. On a clear night in October 1978, the Cuyahoga, under the command of Chief Warrant Officer Donald K. Robinson, was northbound in the Chesapeake Bay on an officer candidate training cruise from its base at the Coast Guard…