Skip to main content
Supreme Court of Canada· 1919

La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique v. The Ship "IMO"

(1919) 59 SCR 644
TortJD
Cite or share
Share via WhatsAppEmail
Showing the official court-reporter headnote. An editorial brief (facts · issues · held · ratio · significance) is on the roadmap for this case. The judgment text below is the authoritative source.

Court headnote

La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique v. The Ship "IMO" Collection Supreme Court Judgments Date 1919-05-19 Report (1919) 59 SCR 644 Judges Davies, Louis Henry; Idington, John; Anglin, Francis Alexander; Brodeur, Louis-Philippe; Mignault, Pierre-Basile On appeal from Canada Subjects Transportation Decision Content Supreme Court of Canada La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique v. The Ship "IMO", (1919) 59 S.C.R. 644 Date: 1919-05-19 La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (Plaintiffs) Appellants. and The Ship "IMO" (Defendant) Respondent. 1919: March 11, 13; 1919: May 19. Present: Sir Louis Davies C.J. and Idington, Anglin, Brodeur and Mignault JJ. ON APPEAL FROM THE EXCHEQUER COURT OF CANADA, NOVA SCOTIA ADMIRALTY DISTRICT. Admiralty law—Collision—Manoeuvres—Signals—Agony of collision. APPEAL from the judgment of the Local Judge for the Nova Scotia Admiralty District of the Exchequer Court of Canada[1], in favour of the respondent. The owners of the steamer "Mont Blanc" brought action in the Admiralty Court claiming damages from the owners of the "Imo" for loss in the collision which caused such great damage to life and property in Halifax on Dec. 6th, 1917. The "Mont Blanc" loaded with high explosives was going north on the Dartmouth side of the channel between Halifax and Dartmouth, and the "Imo" going south on the Halifax side. Signals by whistle were exchanged and the "Mont Blanc" turned to port towards the "Imo's" water. The "Imo" also turned to port and the ships were paral…

Read full judgment
La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique v. The Ship "IMO"
Collection
Supreme Court Judgments
Date
1919-05-19
Report
(1919) 59 SCR 644
Judges
Davies, Louis Henry; Idington, John; Anglin, Francis Alexander; Brodeur, Louis-Philippe; Mignault, Pierre-Basile
On appeal from
Canada
Subjects
Transportation
Decision Content
Supreme Court of Canada
La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique v. The Ship "IMO", (1919) 59 S.C.R. 644
Date: 1919-05-19
La Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (Plaintiffs) Appellants.
and
The Ship "IMO" (Defendant) Respondent.
1919: March 11, 13; 1919: May 19.
Present: Sir Louis Davies C.J. and Idington, Anglin, Brodeur and Mignault JJ.
ON APPEAL FROM THE EXCHEQUER COURT OF CANADA, NOVA SCOTIA ADMIRALTY DISTRICT.
Admiralty law—Collision—Manoeuvres—Signals—Agony of collision.
APPEAL from the judgment of the Local Judge for the Nova Scotia Admiralty District of the Exchequer Court of Canada[1], in favour of the respondent.
The owners of the steamer "Mont Blanc" brought action in the Admiralty Court claiming damages from the owners of the "Imo" for loss in the collision which caused such great damage to life and property in Halifax on Dec. 6th, 1917.
The "Mont Blanc" loaded with high explosives was going north on the Dartmouth side of the channel between Halifax and Dartmouth, and the "Imo" going south on the Halifax side. Signals by whistle were exchanged and the "Mont Blanc" turned to port towards the "Imo's" water. The "Imo" also turned to port and the ships were parallel for a time until the "Imo" went to starboard and the collision occurred.
The trial judge, assisted by nautical assessors, found the "Mont Blanc" solely to blame; that the collision occurred either in mid-channel or on the Halifax side and the "Mont Blanc" was out of her own waters.
In the Supreme Court of Canada the Chief Justice and Idington J. held the "Mont Blanc" alone at fault; Brodeur and Mignault JJ. the "Imo" alone to blame; and Anglin J. that both ships were negligent. Brodeur and Mignault JJ. then agreed to judgment condemning both.
Appeal allowed with costs.
McInnes K.C. and Nolan (of the New York bar) for the appellants.
Newcombe K.C. and Burchell K.C. for the respondent
[1] 19 Ex. C.R. 48; 47 D.L.R. 462.

Source: decisions.scc-csc.ca

Related cases