Virginia International Terminals, Inc. v. M/V Katsuragi

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

FRIEDMAN, District Judge.

This matter is before the court following a bench trial pursuant to the court’s admiralty jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1333. During a docking maneuver on May 12, 2001, the MTV KATSURAGI allided with a pier located at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). The pier was part of a marine terminal operated by Virginia International Terminals, Inc. (VIT), the original plaintiff in this action. VIT sued the KATSURAGI in rem and its owners and operators in personam, who in turn filed a third-party complaint against Moran Towing Corp.,…