Court Opinion

ID: 9462987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 22:55:15.608215+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:37:52.826967
License: Public Domain

CRAVEN, Circuit Judge
(concurring and dissenting).
A question of fact that can rationally be decided either way is by definition a “jury question.” I would leave for jury determination the ultimate question of whether City Ice’s floating barge was appurtenant' to the vessel or part of the shore. But if we are to decide, I am inclined to think that the barge is sufficiently appurtenant to make the vessel responsible. Walking across the barge was not only the regular, it was the only, means of ingress and egress. See Reyes v. Marine Enterprises, 494 F.2d 866 (1st Cir. 1972). And such a “gangplank” is not more curious than adjacent shrimp boats moored side by side. Bradshaw v. The Carol Ann, 163 F.Supp. 366 (S.D.Tex.1956).
Otherwise, I concur.