Drake Fishing, Inc. v. Clarendon American Insurance

ALDRICH, Senior Circuit Judge.

The F/V DRAKE, dragging for scallops on February 28,1995, “hung” her dredge on the bottom. She was unable to free by maneuvering, and ended up with the wire at 90 degrees (downward), her stern quarter into the wind, and seas splashing into the lazar-ettes, the hatch covers having come off, and the crew unable to replace them. The hydraulic winch jammed, and, because of the rain and weather, the crew could not light a torch to cut the wire. Meanwhile, the seas were filling the lazarettes faster than the bilge pumps could handle. In response to a May Day call,…