Opinion ID: 6501165
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Storms Arrive

Text: As Hurricane Irma headed towards St. Thomas, two of Reef’s vessels headed to a dock owned by CBM. Upon arrival, Reef employees prepared the boats for the coming storm. 1 Before departing, a Reef captain signed CBM’s License Agreement on Reef’s behalf. The License Agreement stated that vessel owners would “make suitable arrangements . . . during tropical storms” and be “liable for all damages to the Boat Slip and other facilities owned by the Marina . . . caused by the Vessel.” (App. at 10–11.) 2 Both Reef’s boats survived Irma afloat with their mooring lines loosened but intact. And both sailed away before a second storm, Hurricane Maria, arrived two weeks later. About a month after the Reef vessels left, CBM assessed the condition of the dock. A month after that, CBM’s structural consultant Paul Ferreras documented damage requiring CBM to make extensive repairs.