Hinkins Steamship Agency, Inc. v. Freighters, Inc., 73-1196.

• Decision Date: 06 June 1974
• Docket Number: No. 73-1196.,73-1196.
• Citation: 498 F.2d 411
• Parties: The HINKINS STEAMSHIP AGENCY, INC., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FREIGHTERS, INC., Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

498 F.2d 411 (1974)

The HINKINS STEAMSHIP AGENCY, INC., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FREIGHTERS, INC., Defendant-Appellant.

No. 73-1196.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

June 6, 1974.

Lawrence Alioto, Law Offices of Joseph L. Alioto, San Francisco, Cal., for defendant-appellant.

Hamilton & King, San Francisco, Cal., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before BROWNING, WRIGHT and TRASK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

This appeal is from a judgment in an admiralty proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 1333 in favor of Hinkins Steamship Agency, Inc. (Hinkins) for a balance due for services performed as husbanding agent for an oceangoing vessel which the appellant, Freighters, Inc., had under a time charter. The judgment was rendered upon a motion for summary judgment. Appellant's contention is that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the agreement between the parties was not a maritime contract.

The agreement was initiated by a letter of instructions from Bulk Food Carriers, Inc. (Carriers) informing Hinkins that Carriers was the operating agent for Freighters, Inc., and requesting Hinkins to act as husbanding agent for the SS Pine Tree State. Services which were performed by Hinkins, according to affidavits on file, included arranging for and supervising dockage, pilotage, tug assisting, line handlings, cargo discharge, discharging of deep tanks, sounding of fuel tanks, cleaning of holds, providing supplies and handling operating details pertaining to the vessel's call in Baltimore, Maryland, to discharge a cargo of lumber. Incident to the furnishing of these traditional husbanding services there was repeated attendance on board the vessel by Hinkins. The motion for summary judgment was supported by affidavits verifying the agreement.

The character of the work is determinative of the question whether the agreement was maritime and the jurisdiction properly laid in admiralty. North Pacific Steamship Co. v. Hall Bros. Marine Ry. & Shipbuilding Co., 249 U.S. 119, 125, 39 S.Ct. 221, 63 L.Ed. 510 (1919); 7A J. Moore, Federal Practice ¶¶ 225, 230 (2d ed. 1972).

Appellant contends that Hinkins was not engaged in the performance of maritime services apparently on the theory that Hinkins procured them and did not perform them directly. Obviously all of the services could not have been performed by Hinkins directly. That their performance was its direct responsibility, that the services were clearly maritime and necessary for the continuing voyage, and that Hinkins was directly engaged in supervision, makes them maritime...