Asides

Bensouna v. Someone to Do IT, Inc. (Dec. 5, 2023)

The Florida District Court addresses what is and what isn’t a vessel

Judge William P. Dimitrouleas granted a motion to dismiss because the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. The pro per Plaintiff argued the court had admiralty subject matter jurisdction because his claims involved a “Vessel”. Court found that the structure at issue was not a vessel. The Court reiterated that not every floating structure is a vessel. “An incomplete structure that has not been put into navigation as an instrument of commerce is not a vessel.” The court said that vessels under construction do not give rise to either a maritime contract or a maritime tort.