Document: 368 U.S. 20 82 S.Ct. 5 7 L.Ed.2d 1 William J. ROPER, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES et al. No. 16. Argued Oct. 12, 16, 1961. Decided Nov. 6, Sidney H. Kelsey, Norfolk, Va., for petitioner. Leavenworth Colby, Washington, D.C., respondent, United States. Mr. Justice CLARK delivered the opinion of Court. Petitioner, a longshoreman, brought this libel in personam against States pursuant to Suits Admiralty Act, § 2, 41 Stat. 525, 46 U.S.C. 742, U.S.C.A. 742.1 Claiming injuries suffered while aboard government ship removing grain an elevator, petitioner sought recovery on grounds unseaworthiness and negligence. The District Court dismissed after finding that there was no negligence, since fact not navigation warranty seaworthiness. 170 F.Supp. 763. This dismissal affirmed by divided Appeals, 282 F.2d 413, petition certiorari requesting review seaworthiness issue granted. 365 802, 81 466, 459. We now affirm judgment below. 2 S. Harry Lane liberty World War II origin, which deactivated from service 'mothballed' 1945. In process her supplies, stores, nautical instruments, cargo gear tackle were removed; pipes machinery drained prepared storage; rudder, tail shaft propeller secured. As result such action lost Coast Guard safety certification as well license operate, both requisite vessel navigation. Indeed, trial court found 'admittedly' reactivation would have required major overhaul. 3 1954 Government confronted with urgent need storage facilities country's surplus grain, decision made utilize warehouse space holds some ships. ships reactivated nor used transportation purposes, but utilized solely granaries Government's grain. Pursuant thereto, use covered general agreement between Continental Grain Company Commodity Credit Corporation, it towed loading facilities, filled returned 'dead fleet' 360 vessels, where remained two years. 4 September 1956 sale stored ship, she back elevator unloading operation. earlier movement, repairs or structural changes preparatory activating made; any attempt obtain certificate operate navigation, none issued. movement tug, licensed riding master six linemen stationed dead vessel. discharged secured berth at alone remaining guard line handlers did sign seamen vessel, tugboat captain 'in charge move Fleet down berth' 'subject orders captain.' operation carried out Company. removed 'marine leg,' large shore-based mechanism containing conveyor belt lifts ship's hold into adjacent leased Continental. marine leg owned maintained Continental, their employee operated control house response signals longshoremen hold. When level dropped certain depth, balance drawn onto 'grain shovels'—plow-like devices attached rope winches leg. These shovels employed stevedoring company, had contracted aid unloading. foreman longshoreman crew, injured when latently defective part (a block through one shovel ropes ran) broke struck him. entire directed controlled without power supervise work inspect equipment. 6 test determining whether is 'status ship,' West v. States, 1959, 361 118, 122, 80 189, 192, 161. question fact, Butler Whiteman, 1958, 356 271, 78 734, 754, consequently reversible only upon showing clear error. Admittedly withdrawn presented therefore events subsequent 1945 altered status. function modified. However, converted self-propelled, self-directed Nor even barge transport location another. point be more accurate note itself navigational use. While its granary warehouse, ipso facto A second aspect history fleet elevator. tug assistance motive directional equipment which, indeed, least usable. men signed seamen, captain. Unlike barge, moved order commodities It served mobile then way perform storing until needed, time unloaded. 8 light above circumstances, we cannot say matter law been findings clearly erroneous.2 9 Since are unwilling upset court's factual determination follows supra; Kissinger D.C.1959, 176 828.3 limitation analogous applied libels under Jones 688, has long held precluded if involved Desper Starved Rock Ferry Co., 1952, 342 187, 72 216, 96 L.Ed. 205; Hawn American Cir., 1939, 107 999. 10 disposition case makes unnecessary us pass question, i.e., within circumstances here disclosed. 11 Affirmed. 12 DOUGLAS, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE BLACK concur, dissenting. 13 For reasons stated Judge Sobeloff I believe accident ship' 'a navigation,' because 'being actually transporting cargo.' 419. Other parties, concerned our disposition, impleaded. cases involving similar facts same effect see S.S. 999; D.C.E.D.N.Y. 828; Krolczyk Waterways Navigation D.C.E.D.Mich. 1957, 151 873. Lawlor Socony-Vacuum Oil 1960, 275 599, contra. There minor underway active full crew aboard. view extends often expressed familiar context does extend. E.g., Union Carbide Corp. Goett, 256 449. Implicit reasoning those working vessels (or doing seamen's work) among employees protected

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