Shell Oil Company v The Ship “Lastrigoni”

The dispute in *Shell Oil Company v The Ship “Lastrigoni”* concerned a claim by the Shell Oil Company against the ship *Lastrigoni* for damages arising from a collision between the ship and a Shell oil jetty. The matter came before Menzies J of the High Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the *Lastrigoni* was liable for the damage caused to the jetty. This involved determining whether the collision was caused by the negligence of those in charge of the ship, and if so, whether that negligence was the proximate cause of the damage.

Menzies J found that the evidence established that the collision was caused by the negligence of the master of the *Lastrigoni*. His Honour applied the principles of negligence, holding that the master had failed to exercise reasonable care in navigating the vessel, particularly in relation to the prevailing wind and current conditions. The court concluded that this negligence was the direct and proximate cause of the damage to the jetty, and therefore the ship was liable.