Opinion ID: 1799720
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: liability of greyship

Text: It is uncontested that a valid bareboat charter existed between Greyship Corporation, the title owner of the M/V Patricia Bruce, and Bruce Boat Rentals, Inc. The great weight of federal jurisprudence refuses to hold the owner responsible for transitory unseaworthy conditions arising during the existence of the charter when there is a valid bareboat charter. See, e.g., Guzman v. Pichirilo, 369 U.S. 698, 82 S.Ct. 1095, 8 L.Ed.2d 205 (1962); Brophy v. Lavigne, 801 F.2d 521 (1st Cir.1986). The plaintiffs urge this court to adopt instead the reasoning of the United States Fifth Circuit in Baker v. Raymond International, Inc., 656 F.2d 173, 184 (5th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 983, 102 S.Ct. 2256, 72 L.Ed.2d 861 (1982), in which Judge Rubin held that a seaman may have recourse in personam against the owner of an unseaworthy vessel, without regard to whether owner or bareboat charterer is responsible for the vessel's condition. Since an owner who had no knowledge of the unseaworthy condition could limit liability to the value of the vessel, Judge Rubin reasoned that it was no longer reasonable to require seamen to attach the vessel in order to secure recompense for injuries suffered. The Baker rationale is contrary to the great weight of federal case law, and we decline to follow it here for the reasons expressed by the appellate court below. Backhus v. Transit Casualty Co., supra 532 So.2d at 448-50. The lower courts correctly granted summary judgment in favor of Greyship.