Good morning to Captain and Crew alike, and welcome to The Admiralty Docket. 
On the morning of October 22, 1949, the S/S SANTA ISABEL arrived in Charleston laden with a cargo of bananas and Peruvian cotton in bales. The Peruvian cotton was to be unloaded directly from the hatches of the ship upon lighters for towage up the Cooper River approximately nine miles to the fumigation plant.
Two lighters were chartered. One was obtained from Charleston Constructors for $15 per day. The bales of cotton were stacked on the decks of the lighters and at 4 p.m. the Tug FORT SUMTER left Adgers Wharf under command of Capt. John J. Jackson and proceeded north to the SANTA ISABEL. The Tug FORT SUMTER nudged both lighters up beyond the piers of the Todd Shipyards, where the lighters were rearranged and secured for the voyage. The Tug FORT SUMTER for a fee of $15 per hour began a routine tow up the Cooper River riding a flood tide toward the fumigation plant. The lighters danced across the calm waters, the smell of Peru hung heavy in the air, and life was good.
A deckhand gave the alarm. The Charleston Constructors lighter was sinking. Captain Jackson stopped his engines and watched as both bitts on the lighter failed and the lighter floated free from the tug. Bales of cotton began to fall into the harbor and soon the lighter was awash to her decks. Many bales were lost. The FORT SUMTER beached the sunken lighter until she could be pumped out and towed up river carrying the remaining wet bales for fumigation.
At dawn two days after the sinking, in what appeared to be a reenactment of D-Day, the beach of Sullivan’s Island was discovered littered with bales of Peruvian cotton. They were rescued, placed on trucks, and taken to the fumigation plant and then to City Compress for drying and reconditioning.
Cargo owners sued for their loss. Some claimed the Tug towed the lighter with the low end forward, but Tug FORT SUMTER and her owners denied negligence. Examinations after the casualty supported poor maintenance and unseaworthiness of the barge as cause of the loss. June 26, 1951, Judgment for cargo owners against the lighter in rem and against charterer, reduced 10% for lack of diligence by cargo owners in reconditioning cotton. No liability for Tug FORT SUMTER. And so it went, before the advent of shipping containers and container ships.
More next week on The Admiralty Docket. Until then, remember your rights and responsibilities may change as you approach the shore and may God Almighty grant you pleasant sailing.
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