Complaint and Petition of International Marine Developmentcorp., a Liberian Corp., As Owners of the Sshulda, in a Cause of Exoneration from Orlimitation of Liability, Civiland Maritime.james P. Martin and James B. Martin, D/b/a Port Marinesupply, Appellants, v. International Marine Development Corp., Appellee.complaint and Petition of Oneida Steamship Company, Inc., Anew York Corp., As Owners of the Ss Silver Hawk,in a Cause of Exoneration from Orlimitation of Liability, Civiland Maritime.james P. Martin and James B. Martin, D/b/a Port Marinesupply, Appellants, v. Oneida Steamship Company, Inc., Appellee.complaint and Petition of the United States of America, Asowner of the Ss Alamo Victory, for Exonerationfrom or Limitation of Liability.james P. Martin and James B. Martin, D/b/a Port Marinesupply, Appellants, v. United States of America, Appellee, 463 F.2d 238 (5th Cir. 1972)

The wake left by Hurricane Camille which devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1969 has not yet fully subsided. This cases involves three consolidated actions for property damage against three vessels which arose as a result of the hurricane. We affirm the judgment of the district court denying the claims of appellants.¹ 

Three ocean going vessels were driven from their moorings by the force of the storm. The ship owners filed separate and independent actions for exoneration from or limitation of liability contending that their ships came adrift solely by an act of God and not as a result of any negligence on the part of those in charge of the vessels or any unseaworthiness of the vessels. Claimants Martin, appellants, filed claims against the three vessels for property damage to their piers, wharves and hoisting crane located at Gulfport Harbor, contending that the destruction of their property was a result of the ships being washed ashore during the hurricane. They contend that the ships should have left Gulfport as soon as they learned that Hurricane Camille was expected to strike the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and having failed to do so they are liable for the resulting damage.

The district court sitting without a jury exonerated the shipowners from any liability on the ground that the ships' masters acted in a reasonable and prudent manner in remaining in port during the hurricane and that the sole reason for the ships breaking from their moorings and the resultant damage to claimants' property was an act of God, Hurricane Camille.

The facts of this case are fully stated in the opinion of the district court; we think both the facts and the reasons given by the court adequately support the result reached. Therefore, upon the opinion of the district court, 328 F. Supp. 1316 (S.D. Miss. 1971), we affirm.

Affirmed.