SCF Waxler Marine, L. L.C. v. Aris T M/V, 9343895, Mmsi No. 2406260000, Her Engines

• Decision Date: 24 January 2022
• Docket Number: No. 20-30019,20-30019
• Citation: 24 F.4th 458
• Parties: SCF WAXLER MARINE, L.L.C., doing business as SCF Liquids, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ARIS T M/V, a bulk carrier ship, IMO No. 9343895, MMSI No. 2406260000, her engines, tackle, and other appurtenances, in rem, in admiralty, Defendant-Appellee, v. Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Third-Party Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees, v. Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C., Third-Party Defendant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, v. Aris T. Ene, Third-Party Defendant-Appellee, v. Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C.; Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C., Third-Party Plaintiffs-Appellees, Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Marmaras Navigation Limited; Aris T. Ene, Defendants-Appellees, v. Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Defendants-Appellants, Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Marmaras Navigation Limited; Aris T. Ene, Defendants-Appellees, v. Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Defendants-Appellants, Shell Chemical, L.P., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Marmaras Navigation Limited; Aris T. Ene, Defendants-Appellees, v. Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Defendants-Appellants, In re: In the Matter of the Complaint of Aris T. Ene, Owner, and Marmaras Navigation Limited, Managers, of the Aris T M/V, for Exoneration From or Limitation of Liability Aris T. Ene; Marmaras Navigation Limited, as Managers of the Aris T M/V petitioning for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Petitioners-Appellees, v. Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Third-Party Plaintiffs-Claimants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees, v. Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C., Third-Party Defendant-Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, v. SCF Waxler Marine, L.L.C., doing business as SCF Liquids ; Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C.; Shell Chemical, L.P.; Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C.; Kirby Inland Marine, L.P., Claimant-Appellee, Antoine Morris, Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, In re: In the Matter of the Complaint of Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C., Owner and Operator of M/V Loretta Cenac, Barge CTCO 338, Barge CTCO 339, and Barge CTCO Barge 357B, for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability Cenac Marine Services L.L.C., as owner and operator of the MV Loretta Cenac, Barge CTCO 338, Barge CTCO 339, and Barge CTCO Barge 357B, for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Petitioner-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, v. Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Third-Party Plaintiffs-Defendants-Claimants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees, v. Aris T. Ene; Marmaras Navigation Limited, Third-Party Plaintiffs-Defendants-Claimants-Appellees, Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C., Third-Party Plaintiff-Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C., Third-Party Plaintiff-Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, Shell Chemical, L.P., Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, v. New York Marine and General Insurance Company; Stonington Insurance Company; National Specialty Insurance Company, Third-Party Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees, Continental Insurance Company ; AGCS Marine Insurance Company; Lloyd's Syndicates, 4444CNP, 0958CNP, 1036COF, 1225AES, 0457WTK, 2003SJC, 0033HIS, 2001AML, 4472LIB, 2121ARG, 2623AFB, 0623AFB, 2987BRT, 1183TAL, 3000MKL and 0382HDU 2001AML, 4472LIB, 2121ARG, 2623AFB, 0623AFB, 2987BRT, 1183TAL, 3000MKL and 0382HDU, Third-Party Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellees, SCF Waxler Marine, L.L.C., doing business as SCF Liquids ; Kirby Inland Marine, L.P., Claimants-Appellees, v. Antoine Morris, Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

24 F.4th 458

SCF WAXLER MARINE, L.L.C., doing business as SCF Liquids, Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.ARIS T M/V, a bulk carrier ship, IMO No. 9343895, MMSI No. 2406260000, her engines, tackle, and other appurtenances, in rem, in admiralty, Defendant-Appellee,

v.Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Third-Party Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees,

v.Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C., Third-Party Defendant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,

v.Aris T. Ene, Third-Party Defendant-Appellee,

v.Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C.; Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C., Third-Party Plaintiffs-Appellees,Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C., Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.Marmaras Navigation Limited; Aris T. Ene, Defendants-Appellees,

v.Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Defendants-Appellants,Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C., Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.Marmaras Navigation Limited; Aris T. Ene, Defendants-Appellees,

v.Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Defendants-Appellants,Shell Chemical, L.P., Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.Marmaras Navigation Limited; Aris T. Ene, Defendants-Appellees,

v.Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Defendants-Appellants,

In re: In the Matter of the Complaint of Aris T. Ene, Owner, and Marmaras Navigation Limited, Managers, of the Aris T M/V, for Exoneration From or Limitation of Liability

Aris T. Ene; Marmaras Navigation Limited, as Managers of the Aris T M/V petitioning for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Petitioners-Appellees,

v.Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Third-Party Plaintiffs-Claimants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees,

v.Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C., Third-Party Defendant-Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,

v.SCF Waxler Marine, L.L.C., doing business as SCF Liquids ; Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C.; Shell Chemical, L.P.; Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C.; Kirby Inland Marine, L.P., Claimant-Appellee,Antoine Morris, Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,

In re: In the Matter of the Complaint of Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C., Owner and Operator of M/V Loretta Cenac, Barge CTCO 338, Barge CTCO 339, and Barge CTCO Barge 357B, for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability

Cenac Marine Services L.L.C., as owner and operator of the MV Loretta Cenac, Barge CTCO 338, Barge CTCO 339, and Barge CTCO Barge 357B, for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Petitioner-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,

v.Genesis Marine, L.L.C., owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson and her tow; Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware, owners and operators of the M/V Elizabeth Robinson, Third-Party Plaintiffs-Defendants-Claimants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees,

v.Aris T. Ene; Marmaras Navigation Limited, Third-Party Plaintiffs-Defendants-Claimants-Appellees,Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C., Third-Party Plaintiff-Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,Motiva Enterprises, L.L.C., Third-Party Plaintiff-Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,Shell Chemical, L.P., Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,

v.New York Marine and General Insurance Company; Stonington Insurance Company; National Specialty Insurance Company, Third-Party Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees,Continental Insurance Company ; AGCS Marine Insurance Company; Lloyd's Syndicates, 4444CNP, 0958CNP, 1036COF, 1225AES, 0457WTK, 2003SJC, 0033HIS, 2001AML, 4472LIB, 2121ARG, 2623AFB, 0623AFB, 2987BRT, 1183TAL, 3000MKL and 0382HDU 2001AML, 4472LIB, 2121ARG, 2623AFB, 0623AFB, 2987BRT, 1183TAL, 3000MKL and 0382HDU, Third-Party Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellees,SCF Waxler Marine, L.L.C., doing business as SCF Liquids ; Kirby Inland Marine, L.P., Claimants-Appellees,

v.Antoine Morris, Claimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant.

No. 20-30019

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

FILED January 24, 2022

Thomas Pollard Diaz, Brett Daniel Wise, Liskow & Lewis, P.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Alan K. Goldstein, Law Office of Alan K. Goldstein, Napa, CA, Scott R. Wheaton, Jr., Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiffs-Appellees.

Thomas Pollard Diaz, Brett Daniel Wise, Liskow & Lewis, P.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Alan K. Goldstein, Law Office of Alan K. Goldstein, Napa, CA, Scott R. Wheaton, Jr., for Third Party Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant.

Evans Martin McLeod, Esq., Jeremy Thomas Grabill, William Joseph Riviere, Justin Cole Warner, Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, for Third Party Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees Genesis Marine, L.L.C., and Genesis Marine, L.L.C. of Delaware.

Joseph Dwight LeBlanc, III, Robert Patrick Ray, Frilot, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, for Claimant-Appellee.

Daniel A. Tadros, Douglas L. Grundmeyer, Esq., Nicole Celia Katz, Jon Wesley Wise, Chaffe McCall, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, for Defendant-Appellee Marmaras Navigation Limited, and Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellants Aris T M/V, and Aris T. Ene.

Patrick J. McShane, Esq., Lara N. DiCristina, Timothy Patrick O'Leary, Esq., Frilot, L.L.C., Isaac H. Ryan, Deutsch Kerrigan, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, for Third Party Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees New York Marine and General Insurance Company, Stonington Insurance Company, and National Specialty Insurance Company.

Patrick J. McShane, Esq., Lara N. DiCristina, Timothy Patrick O'Leary, Esq., Frilot, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, for Third Party Defendant-Appellee Lloyd's Syndicates.

John F. Emmett, Randolph Jean Waits, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, for Third Party Defendants-Appellees Continental Insurance Company, and AGCS Marine Insurance Company, and Third Party Defendant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant Cenac Marine Services, L.L.C.

Desherick J. W. Boone, Attorney, Boone Law Firm, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, for Defendant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant Antoine Morris.

Keith Bernard Letourneau, Zachary Cain, Douglas John Shoemaker, Blank Rome, L.L.P., Houston, TX, Michael H. Bagot, Jr., Gerard Beauregard Gelpi, Esq., Wagner, Bagot & Rayer, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, for Third Party Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant Valero Refining - New Orleans, L.L.C.

Before Jones, Smith, and Elrod, Circuit Judges.

Jennifer Walker Elrod, Circuit Judge:

On the evening of January 31, 2016, three vessels were travelling on the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, they did not pass peacefully in the night. This case is about why, and how fault should be assigned. Because we hold that the district court did not err in allocating the parties' respective liabilities, in limiting the parties' liability, or in dismissing the personal injury claim, we AFFIRM.

I.

On the evening of January 31, 2016, the Mississippi River was running high. The weather was fair, and a light surface fog was developing on the portion of river near Hahnville, Louisiana.

The Aris T was moving up the Mississippi River at the same time the Elizabeth and the Loretta were moving down it.¹ The allision occurred as the three vessels were passing each other in the Hahnville Bar, a bend between mile markers 124.5 and 126 in the Mississippi River where a number of moorings are located. In a nutshell, the allision occurred as the Aris T was passing the Loretta and the Elizabeth at the same time as the Loretta was overtaking the Elizabeth , and given their positioning, there simply was not enough room for the three vessels to be adjacent to each other simultaneously.²

The Aris T was mastered by Captain Baltas, but at all relevant times was piloted by Michael Leone, a compulsory pilot.³ The Aris T was in good working order and its crew was duly trained. It was equipped with two Electronic Chart Display and Information System ("ECDIS") units which could be used for navigation, but at the time were only being used for training purposes and had limited functionality. Instead, the Aris T was using radar and paper charts for navigation, and Pilot Leone had a portable Rose Point electronic chart system.

The Elizabeth was under the command of Captain Christiansen. The Elizabeth was in good working order and navigated with both radar and a Rose Point system.

The Loretta was piloted by Captain Sanamo; it too was navigated with radar and a Rose Point system. Unlike the other two vessels, however, the Loretta was not in good working order. The Loretta was secured to the barges it was towing by two-part face wires.⁴ At some point during these events, this wiring system failed, limiting the Loretta 's maneuverability. This was not the first time the Loretta 's face-wire system failed, but Cenac chose a band-aid solution rather than redesigning to a three-part face-wire system, which would have run back to the barge an additional time.

As the Loretta and the Elizabeth were approaching the Hahnville Bar, Captain Christiansen suggested to Captain Sanamo that the Loretta overtake the Elizabeth. Captain Sanamo had previously asked to overtake the Elizabeth , but at that point Captain Christiansen thought the maneuver was too dangerous. But Captain Christiansen was going to be "stopping and backing up" at the Bayou Fleet, just south of the Hahnville Bar. Because he would be slowing down to back in, he thought that this was a good time for the Loretta to overtake him.

Further, Captain Christiansen mistakenly believed there was nothing nearby going upriver; neither he nor Captain Sanamo had heard the Aris T 's earlier announcement of its position over the radio, which could be because Pilot Leone transmitted using a handheld VHF radio from within the steel confines of the Aris T 's bridge. ...