Archamax Corp. v. St Lawrence Seaway Authority, 2001 FCT 1021

Date: 20010914

Docket: T-1272-98

Neutral citation: 2001 FCT 1021

Montreal, Quebec, September 14, 2001

Present:           Richard Morneau, Esq., Prothonotary

                                 ADMIRALTY ACTION IN REM AND IN PERSONAM

BETWEEN:

                                                       ARCHAMAX CORPORATION

                                                                                                                                                          Plaintiff

                                                                                 and

                                       THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY AUTHORITY

                                                                                 and

                                                 UPPER LAKES SHIPPING LIMITED

                                                                                 and

                                             THE VESSEL "CANADIAN EXPLORER"

                                                                                 and

                             THE OWNERS AND ALL OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE

VESSELS "CANADIAN CENTURY", "CANADIAN ENTERPRISE",

"CANADIAN EXPLORER", "CANADIAN LEADER",

"CANADIAN MARINER", "CANADIAN MINER",

"CANADIAN NAVIGATOR", "CANADIAN OLYMPIC",

"CANADIAN PROGRESS", "CANADIAN PROSPECTOR",

"CANADIAN PROVIDER", "CANADIAN RANGER",

"CANADIAN TRANSPORT", "CANADIAN VOYAGER",

"HAMILTON TRANSFER", "JAMES NORRIS",

"MONTREALAIS", "QUEBECOIS", and "SEAWAY QUEEN"

                                                                                                                                                    Defendants

                                               REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

RICHARD MORNEAU, ESQ., PROTHONOTARY

[1]                 This is a motion in writing on behalf of the Plaintiff for an Order to compel the Defendant Upper Lakes Shipping Limited (ULS) to answer the questions which were objected to on grounds of relevancy and to compel the Defendant to answer all undertakings emanating from the examination for discovery of Mr. Gordon Quesnelle held on March 16, 2001 (rules 97(b), 241 et seq. and 401).

[2]                 ULS formally objected to four questions asked of Mr. Quesnelle by the Plaintiff, and did not provide an answer to an undertaking.

[3]                 I shall deal with the four outstanding questions first.

[4]                 Having considered the representations of counsel, I am satisfied that question 28 has been sufficiently answered by the Defendant ULS.

[5]                 Question 81 shall be answered since I consider at this juncture that the ULS policy and the basis upon which it was established are relevant information on how the "CANADIAN EXPLORER" should have been properly handled at the time of the incident.

[6]                 As to questions 637 and 639, for the reasons expressed by the Plaintiff, ULS shall answer the question whether the vessel was ISM approved in 1997 and provide information on procedure manuals in place as regards the operation of the vessel and related to its ISO certification.

[7]                 As to question 798, it is unclear whether an undertaking relating thereto was given. In any event, I am satisfied that said question has been sufficiently answered.

[8]                 Therefore, the Defendant ULS shall answer questions 81, 637 and 639 within twenty-five (25) days of the date of this Order without prejudice to any proper follow-up questions that may arise therefrom. Otherwise, the Plaintiff's motion is dismissed.

[9]                 As success is divided, no order is made as to costs.

Richard Morneau   

                                           Prothonotary

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                                                                 TRIAL DIVISION

                              NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:

STYLE OF CAUSE:

T-1272-98

Admiralty action in rem and in personam

Between:

ARCHAMAX CORPORATION

                                                                                                               Plaintiff

and

THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY AUTHORITY and UPPER LAKES SHIPPING LIMITED and THE VESSEL "CANADIAN EXPLORER" and THE OWNERS AND ALL OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE VESSELS "CANADIAN CENTURY", "CANADIAN ENTERPRISE", "CANADIAN EXPLORER", "CANADIAN LEADER", "CANADIAN MARINER", "CANADIAN MINER", "CANADIAN NAVIGATOR", "CANADIAN OLYMPIC", "CANADIAN PROGRESS", "CANADIAN PROSPECTOR", "CANADIAN PROVIDER", "CANADIAN RANGER", "CANADIAN TRANSPORT", "CANADIAN VOYAGER", "HAMILTON TRANSFER", "JAMES NORRIS", "MONTREALAIS", "QUEBECOIS", and "SEAWAY QUEEN"

                                                                                                        Defendants

WRITTEN MOTION EXAMINED IN MONTREAL WITHOUT PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE PARTIES

REASONS FOR ORDER OF:          Richard Morneau, Esq., Prothonotary

DATED:                                                 September 14, 2001

WRITTEN OBSERVATIONS BY:

SOLICITORS OF RECORD: