Cope v. Vallette Dry-Dock Co.

16 F. 924 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Louisiana | 1883

Woods, Justice.

Upon the findings of facts the question is pro-sented whether the services rendered by the libelants to the Valletta Dry-dock Company were of such a nature as to give the district court and this court, sitting in admiralty, jurisdiction over this case. We are of opinion that the services did not partake of the nature of salvage services. The structure to which they were rendered was not designed for navigation, and being practically incapable of navigation, it had no more connection with trade or commerce than á wharf, a ship-yard, or a fixed dry-dock, into which water-crafts are introduced by being drawn up on ways. As shown by the findings, it had remained securely and permanently moored to the bank for a period of more than 14 years. It partook more of the nature of a fixture attached to the realty than of a boat or ship.

A service is not necessarily a maritime service because rendered upon the high seas or a navigable river. It must be a maritime service; it must have some relation to commerce or navigation; some connection with a vessel employed in trade, — with her equipment, her preservation, or the preservation of her crew. Thackeray v. The Farmer, Gilp. 524.

So, in the case of The Hendrick Hudson, when the hulk, a dismantled steam-boat, fitted up as a hotel and saloon, had got ashore, and it became necessary to lighten her by pumping, and a steam-propeller was employed for that purpose, whose owners afterwards filed a libel for salvage, it w'as held that the hulk was not at the time engaged in commerce and navigation in such a sense as to be liable in rem in admiralty. 3 Ben. 419.

A case in all respects similar to the present one was decided by Mr. Dillon, lately circuit judge for ihe eighth circuit. We refer to the case of The Salva Wrecking Company in the United States circuit court for the eastern district of Missouri. It has not been Reported, but we havp been furnished with a copy of the opinion delivered. It was a suit in personam to recover for salvage services for raising docks similar to the Vallette dry-dock, which, without breaking away from shore or parting the cables, had sunk so deep that they could not be raised by their own pumps. It was held that the services did not relate to navigation business, or commerce of the sea or public navigable waters, in such a sense as to make the services maritime, and the libel was dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

The cases cited by counsel for libelants are cases of derelict, or of property found floating at sea, or wrecked or washed upon the shore. Taber v. Jenny, 1 Spr. 322; Fifty Thousand Feet of Timber, 2 Low. 64; A Raft of Spars, 1 Abb. Adm. 485; Twenty-three Bales of Cotton, 9 Ben. 48. Other cases cited refer to salvage services rendered boats of different kinds. The Old Natchez, 9 Fed. Rep. 476; Maltby v. A Steam Derrick Boat, 3 Hughes, 477; The Senator, Brown, Adm. 372; The Union Express, Id. 516.

These cases are not in conflict with the views expressed in this case.

Our conclusion is that neither the district court nor this court has jurisdiction of this case, and the libel must therefore be dismissed.

Pardee, J., concurs.

See The Hyderabad, 11 Fed. Rep. 749, and note, 758; The Vincenz Pinotti, infra.