SKIBS A/S GYLFE v. Hyman-Michaels Company

OPINION

FREEMAN, Chief Judge.

On July 8, 1961, the Norwegian Motor-ship Gyda, carrying a shipment of steel turnings consigned to Mitsubishi, a Japanese company, arrived in Philadelphia and was required to anchor in the explosives anchorage due to the spontaneous heating of her cargo. On July 14, unloading of the turnings commenced, and extensive fires resulted. Substantial damage was sustained by the ship as well as the cargo. As a consequence, eleven suits, many with cross-claims and third-party claims, were filed — ten by the owner of the ship and its underwriters and one by the owner of the…