Northern Voyager Ltd. Partnership v. Thames Shipyard & Repair Co.

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

ZOBEL, District Judge.

On the morning of November 2, 1997, while approximately two miles off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, the F/V NORTHERN VOYAGER (the “VOYAGER”), a 144 foot fishing boat, began experiencing steering difficulty. Although the weather was clear at the time, a passing storm had left behind swells of approximately seven to eight feet in height. The boat’s chief engineer, Gary Tibbo (“Tib-bo”), was in the wheelhouse with the boat’s mate, Peter Flaherty (“Flaherty”). Flah-erty began to notice that the boat was starting to make circles in the water,…