Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co. v. United States

CHASE, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents solely the question of how much damage was done to the libel-ant’s steamship W. L. Steed when it was in collision with the tank barge Portsmouth in tow of the Shipping Board’s steamtug Hulver in the Panuco River, Mexico, on May 25, 1920.

The W. L. Steed, a single screw vessel four hundred thirty feet long, was loaded alongside the Huasteca Dock on the Panuco river below Tampico, Mexico, with a full cargo of petroleum products. Her bow was then up stream, and it was necessary for her to turn to put out to sea. At that time the Panuco, swollen by…