Facts
Ship owners whose vessels were damaged in the same Sydney Harbour fire sued the owners of the ship that spilled the oil.
Issue
Was a fire risk, though small, foreseeable to a reasonable ship's engineer?
Held
Yes. The ship's engineer should have known of a real risk of fire, and the owners were liable.
Principle
A does not ignore a real risk that could easily be avoided, and is expected to have the knowledge of his position.
Why it matters
Different evidence led to a different result from No 1.
Cited in these chapters
Topics
Cite this page
The Wagon Mound (No 2) [1967] 1 AC 617 (Lanbuk) <https://www.lanbuk.com/llb/torts/cases/wagon-mound-no-2> accessed 31 October 2026
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This summary is a Lanbuk study aid based on the generally known facts and reports of the case. It is not legal advice.