Aktiebolaget Malareprovinsernas Bank v. Hanover Fire Insurance

211 A.D. 608, 208 N.Y.S. 173, 1925 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10659
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedFebruary 6, 1925
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 211 A.D. 608 (Aktiebolaget Malareprovinsernas Bank v. Hanover Fire Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aktiebolaget Malareprovinsernas Bank v. Hanover Fire Insurance, 211 A.D. 608, 208 N.Y.S. 173, 1925 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10659 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1925).

Opinion

Martin, J.:

On the 9th day of June, 1917, the steamship Ada was destroyed by a torpedo near Aberdeen, Scotland. She was insured against certain war risks. These actions were instituted to recover on nine separate policies of insurance issued during the month of September, 1916, at the city of New York. The issues in all [610]*610the actions are practically the same. The policy issued by the iEtna Insurance Company differs from the others in that it contains a provision requiring the prosecution of all claims within one year from the date of the happening of the loss; and the policy of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company differs from the others in that it does not contain a free-of-British-capture warranty.

Throughout the period involved in this litigation the Ada was owned by Rederiaktiebolaget Amie, hereinafter called the Amie Company. She was a Swedish vessel hailing from the port of Stockholm, Sweden. In June, 1916, while lying in New York harbor, she was attached in various suits brought against the Amie Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In order to procure her release it was necessary to give bonds to the extent of $366,200. They were furnished by the National Surety Company, against certain collateral and various indemnity agreements. Among the indemnitors were Henrik Ryberg and C. I. Morin, both of whom were representatives in the United States of the Amie Company. As further security to the National Surety Company, the Amie Company conveyed the Ada to Ryberg, who on the same day executed an instrument whereby he agreed to hold the vessel in trust for the National Surety Company as security for the performance of his indemnity agreement. A week later, however, Ryberg reconveyed her to the Amie Company, which, at the same time, executed an agreement to hold her in trust for the National Surety Company and subject to all the conveyances and agreements heretofore made by Ryberg to and with the National Surety Company. All of the papers and documents mentioned above bear date during the period from June 22 to June 29, 1916.

As further security to the National Surety Company, when the steamer was about to sail on a round trip voyage to Sweden, in September, 1916, Ryberg took out insurance in his name in the total sum of $175,000 covering her against certain war risks, with loss, if any, payable to him “ and/or the National Surety Company as interest might appear.”

The risks covered were described as follows: This insurance covers only the risk of capture, seizure, or destruction, or damage by men of war, by letters of marque, by takings at sea, arrests, restraints, detainments and acts of kings, princes and people, authorized by and in prosecution of hostilities between belligerent nations; but excluding claims for delay, deteriorations and/or loss of market and warranted not to abandon in case of capture, seizure or detention, until after condemnation of the property insured, nor [611]*611until sixty days after notice of said condemnation is given to these Assurers. Also warranted not to abandon in case of blockade, and free from any claim for loss or expense in consequence of blockade, or of any attempt to evade blockade; but in event of blockade to be at liberty to proceed to an open port, and there end the voyage.”

With the exception of the policy of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company, the policies all contained the following warranty: Warranted free from any claim arising from capture, seizure, arrests, restraints, pre-emption or detainments by the British Government or their allies.”

At the time this insurance was written the vessel was lying in New York harbor and was about to proceed on a voyage to Gothenberg and return. In the policies the vessel was valued at $175,000. The voyage was described therein as follows: * * * At and from New York to Gothenberg, whilst there and return to United States, Atlantic Port or Ports, direct or otherwise * * *.”

The Ada sailed from New York on September 30,1916, and arrived at Gothenberg without having called at any British port and without having been stopped or searched by a British man-of-war.

On November 25, 1916, she sailed from Gothenberg bound for New York with a general cargo. On December 2, 1916, she was stopped by a British man-of-war, a prize crew was placed aboard and she was taken into Stornaway in the Hebrides. As a complete search could not be made there, she was ordered to proceed to Bristol, Eng., where her cargo was discharged and the vessel and cargo thoroughly searched. The master and owners endeavored to procure her release, but they were unsuccessful until some time in March, 1917. The defendants assert that during the early part of this latter month the vessel was released and was free to .go wherever her owners directed.

There is a disagreement between the insurance carriers and the plaintiffs as to (1) whether the vessel, when released, had on board a sufficient supply of coal to reach an American port; and -(2) as to the extent to which the British government undertook to dictate her future movements as a condition of permitting her to obtain the additional coal required to complete her voyage.

When the Ada commenced her return voyage to the United States, which was intercepted by the British man-of-war, she had an ample supply of coal. During her stay in British ports a large portion of the coal was consumed, making it necessary, to obtain an additional supply before resuming the voyage to an American port. The British authorities refused to give her additional coal until it was agreed that her cargo remain in England while she took on and carried a cargo of coal to Sweden and returned [612]*612to England with a general cargo. The owners of the vessel, believing it prudent to do so and evidently having no alternative, chartered her to carry the cargo of coal from Swansea to Gothenberg. She sailed from Swansea on this voyage in April, 1917. The owners received $85,942.50 for carrying the freight to Gothenberg, where the vessel arrived safely and discharged her cargo. She then loaded a general cargo for Hull, Eng., arranged for by her owners, and sailed from Gothenberg on June 2, 1917. For this voyage, during which she was destroyed, her owners received a freight of $80,361.90.

The plaintiff contends that this voyage from England to Gothenberg was not only necessary in order to obtain coal to proceed to an American port, but that the English government would not permit the vessel to proceed on any other terms; and that the owners acquiesced in order to eventually carry to the United States the cargo which the ship had been compelled to unload in a British port.

The defendants assert that there was an unnecessary deviation and an abandonment or voluntary departure from the voyage insured against. To arrive at this conclusion their counsel indulged in numerous inferences which are wholly unwarranted by the evidence; and they say there was an unnecessary deviation, that the Ada was at liberty to go where her master chose after she was' released preparatory to the voyage from England to Sweden.

It is unnecessary to devote much space to establish that at no time was she at liberty to proceed to New York or elsewhere, except as directed by the British government.

There is no force in the argument that there was a voluntary abandonment of the voyage. The captain did everything in his power to continue it.

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Bluebook (online)
211 A.D. 608, 208 N.Y.S. 173, 1925 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10659, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aktiebolaget-malareprovinsernas-bank-v-hanover-fire-insurance-nyappdiv-1925.