Hellenic Lines Limited and Universal Cargo Carriers, Inc. v. Zacharias Rhoditis

GOLDBERG, Circuit Judge:

Sixteen years after Lauritzen v. Larsen1 we must fish in somewhat turgid waters for its spawn in order to determine the applicability of the Jones Act.2 The question presented is whether or not the Jones Act applies so as to allow recovery to a Greek seaman who was injured in a United States port on a Greek-flag vessel owned and controlled by United States domiciliaries. We hold that the Jones Act applies and affirm the judgment of the district court.3

Zacharias Rhoditis, an illiterate Greek seaman, was injured aboard the S. S. HELLENIC HERO while the ship was docking…