Malanos v. Marsuerte Compania Naviera, S.A.

MEMORANDUM

WALTER E. HOFFMAN, Chief Judge.

This matter is before the Court on respondent’s exceptions to the jurisdiction and a plea of forum non conveniens. More appropriately it may be treated as a motion to decline jurisdiction.

Libelant, a Greek national, was a member of the crew of the KYMA, a vessel flying the flag of the Kingdom of Greece and registered as such in Greece. The ship was owned by Marsuerte Compañía Naviera, S.A., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Panama, but said vessel was admittedly operated and controlled by the owner corporation from…