Steuart Transportation Co. v. Allied Towing Corp.

BUTZNER, Circuit Judge:

Steuart Transportation Company and the United States appeal a judgment entered in the liability phase of a bifurcated trial on Steuart’s petition for limitation of liability arising from an oil spill out of Steuart’s tank barge STC-101. We hold that (1) Steuart cannot claim contribution from the tug that was towing the barge at the time of the accident, (2) Steuart can secure limitation of liability under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act against oil pollution removal costs claimed by the United States,1 (3) the United States cannot recover removal costs through…