In Brief
On 27 August 1987, the vessel M.V. Chennai Nermai collided with a coal loader while being berthed at Haldia Dock, causing damage. The Board of Trustees sued for repair costs, but the Master had initially denied liability and only acknowledged it under protest after vessel detention. A Government-appointed expert Committee found the accident resulted from a combination of five factors (deballasting, high water level, strong winds, poor communication, and misplaced cargo loader) for which no individual responsibility could be assigned. The Supreme Court held the Committee's findings were correct and binding. While the Master's non-disclosure of draft reduction and the Berthing Master's failure to verify the draft were both factors, neither alone caused the accident. The Court allowed the appeal, set aside the Division Bench's ruling that placed entire liability on the vessel, and restored the Single Judge's decree in the vessel's favour.",
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