Opinion ID: 19793
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Negligence Per Se - Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS)

Text: 18 Folger Coffee and Gulf Insurance contend that the vessel was per se unseaworthy under the 1993 amendment to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention. They argue that the M.V. Olivebank did not meet the SOLAS standards regarding alternate and emergency power and lighting, and that this failure was the proximate cause of the loss. 19 We are not persuaded by Folger Coffee and Gulf Insurance's contention that the concept of negligence per se may be used to overcome COGSA's burden of proof requirements. The authority FolgerCoffee and Gulf Insurance rely on to support this contention deals with negligence in the context of personal injury rather than under COGSA. See Kernan v. American Dredging Co., 355 U.S. 426, 438-39 (1958) (wrongful death action claiming FELA violation); Smith v. Trans-World Drilling Co., 772 F.2d 157, 162 (5th Cir. 1985) (seaman injury claim under Jones Act and general maritime law); Dougherty v. Santa Fe Marine, Inc., 698 F.2d 232 (5th Cir. 1983) (employees of mobile offshore drilling unit alleging injury for violation of Coast Guard regulation). 20