Ionion Steamship Company of Athens v. United Distillers of America, Inc

JOHN R. BROWN, Circuit Judge.

The District Court, on the cargo owner’s libel for damage, held that the strandings of The Ionian Pioneer as she left San Pedro de Macoris, the second of two loading ports under a molasses voyage charter, and again while leaving Nue-vitas, Cuba, a claimed port of refuge, were caused by the owner’s failure to make the vessel seaworthy. With this fell the shipowner’s cross libel for General Average contributions. Defending against these acknowledged strandings, the shipowner claimed that, at least at San Pedro, it was a navigational error excused under the charter…