The vessel Harvest Moon was found negligent in a collision in a case that played out in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
ADM International SARL, the owner of Harvest Moon, sued River Ventures, LLC, the owner Freedom, after their vessels were involved in a crash. Associate Marine Equipment, LLC is the owner and operator of Randy W., while Marquette Transportation Company Gulf-Inland, LLC owned St. Elmo, and those companies were also sued by ADM.
Three injury lawsuits related to the collision were filed, with the only claim remaining in a decision handed down late last month was fault: ADM and/or River Ventures.
“Having reviewed the witnesses’ testimony, the exhibits admitted into evidence, and the parties’ briefing, the court finds that Harvest Moon was negligent, and her negligence was a proximate cause of the collision and subsequent allisions,” U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon ruled.
Fallon held that the pilot, as the one navigating the vessel, should have known about a needed repair. Harvest Moon was also going extremely fast when putting down the anchor.
Conversely, Freedom was going so slow that it couldn’t make room for Harvest Moon, which also played a part in the accident.
Still, Harvest Moon was given a majority of the fault, as the court ruled that the entire collision could’ve been avoided if Harvest Moon just slowed down.
“The crew and pilot of the Harvest Moon not only violated several statutory regulations, but they also breached several duties owed to the vessels and persons around the Harvest Moon…,” Judge Fallon wrote.
Ultimately, ADM was 80% responsible, and River was 20% responsible. ADM owed $151,898.24 to Ingram Barge, which was involved in the crash, while River Ventures owed $37,974.56.