Lea River Lines, Inc. v. The Virginia

SHELBOURNE, Chief Judge.

On the morning of December 29th, 1942, about 5:20 o’clock, a collision occurred between the tows of two motor vessels, the Frog and Virginia, in the lower Mississippi River at or about Mile 811. The Virginia and her tow were upbound. Her tow consisted of four barges laden with oil, which was being pushed by the Virginia. The barges were arranged in tandem fashion. The combined length of the tow was 734 feet, which with the length of the Virginia — 111 feet- — made a flotilla 845 feet long.

The Frog, a smaller vessel, 60 feet in length, was pushing a tow of four barges,…