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Seaman status in United States admiralty law

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The status of aseamaninadmiralty lawprovidesmaritimeworkers with protections such as payment of wages,working conditions,andremedies for workplace injuriesunder theMerchant Marine Act of 1920(Jones Act), and the doctrines of "unseaworthiness"and"maintenance and cure".[1]Each of these remedies have the same criteria for the status of "seaman".[2]Having the status of "seaman" providesmaritimeemployees with benefits that are not available to those without the status. However, the determination of who is a "seaman" is complex.

History[edit]

The term "seaman" has been used in admiralty law for centuries. U.S. courts have continued to narrow the definition of the term and the remedies available to those with the status through their rulings over that time. TheSupreme Courtnotably tried to summarize the remedies available to those with the status inThe Osceola.[3]

The court codified the maintenance and cure and unseaworthiness remedies, but their ruling on remedies involvingnegligencedid not go over well withCongress.The court stated that seamen cannot recover for injuries caused by the negligence of another crewmember and that they are "not allowed to recover anindemnityfor the negligence of the master, or any member of the crew ".[3]: 175 

Seamen's Act and Jones Act[edit]

TheMerchant Marine Act of 1915(Seamen's Act) was in response to the ruling inThe Osceola.It attempted to create a negligence action for seamen. § 20 of the 1915 Act provided: "That in any suit to recoverdamagesfor any injury sustained on board vessel or in its service seamen having command shall not be held to be fellow-servants with those under their authority. "[4]

In 1920, Congress passed the Jones Act, which provides acause of actionin negligence for "any seaman" injured "in the course of his employment".[5]The Act was passed in part in response to the Supreme Court's prior ruling inChelentis v. Luckenbach S.S. Co.,that did not provide remedies for an injuredfiremanbecause it was caused by a superior officer who was considered a member of the crew and not a fellow servant.[6]

The Jones Act requires that those seeking remedies under the Act are "seaman", but does not define the term.[7]U.S. courts have attempted to interpret the term in their rulings since the 1920 Act was passed. As JusticeSandra Day O'Connorsaid in herMcDermott International, Inc. v. Wilanderopinion,"'seaman' is a maritimeterm of art".[8]Wilanderinterprets Congress's use of the term to be the "established meaning" in generalmaritime lawup to the passing of the Jones Act.

The use of the term prior to the Jones Act was extremely broad, including "not only sailors andship's officersof all known types but alsobartenders,cabin boys,carpenters,chambermaids,clerks,cooks,coopers,divers,doctors,dredgeworkers,engineers,firemen,fishermen,harpooners,horsemen,interpreters,masons,muleteers,musicians,pilots,pursers,radio operators,seal hunters,stewards,surveyors,and waiters ".[9]

U.S. courts, including the Supreme Court continued to interpret the seaman status liberally untilInternational Stevedoring Co. v. Haverty,[10]when the court held that astevedoreis a "seaman" under the Act. JusticeOliver Wendell Holmes Jr.recognized that "as the word is commonly used, stevedores are not 'seamen'.... But words are flexible... We cannot believe that Congress willingly would have allowed the protection to men engaged upon the same maritime duties to vary with the accident of their being employed by a stevedore rather than by the ship."[10]: 5 Justice Holmes quickly found out that he was incorrect in his assumption that Congress wanted to make the term even broader. Within a year, Congress responded to theHavertyruling by enacting theLongshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act(LHWCA),[11]"to restrict maritime workers other than 'masters or members of a crew of any vessel' to aworkers' compensationremedy against their employers ".[12]

Swanson v. Marra Brothers, Inc.,made it clear that the LHWCA provides relief for land workers and the Jones Act provides relief for "master or member of a crew of any vessel".[13]

Wilander[edit]

Prior toWilander,the U.S. courts often followed one of two tests to see if a maritime worker was eligible for the status of "seaman".

TheRobinsontest[14]was to see if "a seaman contributed to the function of the vessel or to the accomplishment of its mission". The test fromJohnson v. John F. Beasley Constwas whether the employee made "a significant contribution to the maintenance, operation, or welfare of the transportation function of the vessel".[15]

InWilander,O'Connor determined that at the time the Jones Act was passed, "it was only necessary that a person be employed on board a vessel in furtherance of its purpose", and that, "the Jones Act established no requirement that a seaman aid in navigation".[16]

Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis[edit]

In 1995, the Supreme Court was again faced with the question of who qualifies for "seaman" status. InChandris, Inc. v. Latsis,O'Connor again wrote themajority opinionand here laid out two elements necessary to qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act: "The worker's duties must contribute to the function of the vessel or to the accomplishment of its mission, and the worker must have a connection to a vessel innavigation(or an identifiable fleet of vessels) that is substantial in terms of both its duration and its nature. "[17]

Definition[edit]

Because "seaman" is not defined in the statutes providing them with these special protections, it is necessary to analyze the case law interpreting thestatutesand come up with a general rule.

To qualify as a seaman, a maritime employee must be a sea-based employee and a "master or a member of a vessel's crew" who makes some contribution to the ship's work. It is not necessary for the employee to assist in the navigation or transportation of the vessel, but the employee "must have a connection to a vessel in navigation (or to an identifiable fleet of such vessels) that is substantial in terms of both its duration and its nature".[18]

However, according to 46 U.S.C.S. 10101(3), a seaman is an individual (except scientific personnel, sailing school instructors, or sailing school students) engaged or employed in any capacity on board a vessel.[19]

Additionally, to qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act, a maritime worker must have spent 30% of their career aboard a vessel in navigable waters.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^Frank L. Maraist, Thomas C. Galligan Jr., and Catherine M. Maraist (2003),Cases and Materials on Maritime Law,West, p. 347.
  2. ^David W. Robertson, Steven F. Friedell, and Michael F. Sturley (2001),Admiralty and Maritime Law in the United States,240.
  3. ^ab189 U.S. 158 (1903).
  4. ^38 Stat. 1185.
  5. ^46 U.S.C. App. § 688.
  6. ^247 U.S. 372 (1918).
  7. ^46 U.S.C. App. 688(a).
  8. ^498 U.S. 337, 342 (1991).
  9. ^Robertson, David W. (2003).The Supreme Court's Approach to Determining Seaman Status: Discerning the Law Amid Loose Language and Catchphrases.34J. Mar. L. & Com.547, 554.
  10. ^ab272 U.S. 50 (1926)
  11. ^33 U.S.C. 902(3)(G).
  12. ^34 J. Mar. L. & Com. 547 at 555.
  13. ^328 U.S. 1 (1946).
  14. ^887 F2d. 88, 90 (1984)
  15. ^742 F2d. 1054 (1984)
  16. ^498 U.S. 337, 346 (1991).
  17. ^515 U.S. 347, 376 (1995).
  18. ^34 J. Mar. L. & Com. 547 at 571.
  19. ^Jones Act
  20. ^"Who Is a Seaman Under the Jones Act?".Adley Law Firm.
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