LOADING SHIPS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2766, 3 February 1882, Page 2

LOADING SHIPS.

A case of some importance to shipowners has just been decided by Lord Coleridge. The question raised was whether, under a charter binding the chaterer to load the vessel “ at her full draught,” the charterer is bound not only to fill the ship, but to put in such a cargo as to carry her down in,,the water to the utmost limit of a safe load ing line. The plaintiffs contended that their vessel was, not loaded at her full draught, but at a draught which was ll inches short of that draught, taking Plimsoll’s mark as the guide. It Was further urged that the owners of the ships had the right not only to have, the vessel filled, but filled with a cargo of such a weight as should carry the vessel down to the safety line. For the defendants it was contended that so long as the vessel was full it mattered not .what draught of water she was drawing. Lord Coledrige gave-juag ment for the plaintiffs, holding that the words “her full draught” could only mean that the vessel should be loaded down to her safety line. The clause is an unusual one in charterparties, but it must have been purposely put in in the case to which we are referring, to guai’d against what_ actually happened. Merchants chartering ships for the conveyance of wheat have only

to see that these or simi'ar words are included to be free to till the ship, careless of what water she may draw if only she does not sink below the safety line.