Great Lakes Insurance SE v. Andersson

United States Court of Appeals
For the First Circuit
No. 23-1359
GREAT LAKES INSURANCE SE,
Plaintiff, Appellant,
v.
MARTIN ANDERSSON,
Defendant, Appellee.
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
[Hon. Timothy S. Hillman, U.S. District Judge]
Before
Gelpí, Howard, and Rikelman,
Circuit Judges.
Michael I. Goldman, with whom The Goldman Maritime Law Group
was on brief, for appellant.
Michelle M. Niemeyer, with whom Michelle M. Niemeyer, P.A.,
Harvey B. Heafitz, and Davagian Grillo & Semple LLP, were on brief,
for appellee.
December 22, 2023
GELPÍ, Circuit Judge. Defendant-Appellee Martin
Andersson ("Andersson") purchased an insurance policy ("policy")
for his vessel, the Melody ("vessel"), from Plaintiff-Appellant
Great Lakes Insurance SE ("Great Lakes") in November 2018. In
December 2019, the vessel ran aground off the coast of the
Dominican Republic. Great Lakes brought a declaratory judgment
action to determine coverage under the policy and Andersson filed
counterclaims for breach of contract and equitable estoppel. Great
Lakes moved for summary judgment on its declaratory judgment claim
and Andersson moved for partial summary judgment on his breach of
contract claim. Great Lakes' motion was denied, and Andersson was
granted partial summary judgment on his breach of contract claim.
Great Lakes now appeals the denial of its motion for summary
judgment, and entry of summary judgment in Andersson's favor,
claiming the district court erred as a matter of law in refusing
to apply the policy's definition of seaworthiness.1 We affirm.
1 This interlocutory appeal is properly before us pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(3) because it determines the rights and
liabilities of the parties to an admiralty case. See Great Lakes
Ins. SE v. Andersson, 66 F.4th 20, 22 (1st Cir. 2023) (stating
interlocutory appeal in admiralty law is properly before the court
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(3)); United States v. Nature's Way
Marine, L.L.C., 904 F.3d 416, 419 n.5 (5th Cir. 2018) (exercising
jurisdiction over appeal from ruling of partial summary judgment).
In a previous decision, we held that the policy's choice of law
provision does not bar Andersson from bringing an
unfair-settlement-practices counterclaim under Massachusetts law.
See Andersson, 66 F.4th at 22. This appeal does not involve that
claim, so we omit any further reference to it.
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I. Background
A. Facts2
In November 2018, Andersson purchased an insurance
policy from Great Lakes which afforded $365,000 in first party
property damage coverage for his vessel and covered Florida, the
Bahamas, and the Caribbean.3 The policy was issued in December
2018. The policy's seaworthiness warranty stated that "[i]t is
warranted that the Scheduled Vessel is seaworthy at all times
during the duration of this insuring agreement. Breach of this
warranty will void this insuring agreement from its inception."
The policy defined "seaworthy" as:
[F]it for the Scheduled Vessel's intended purpose.
Seaworthiness applies not only to the physical condition
of the hull, but to all its parts, equipment and gear
and includes the responsibility of assigning an adequate
crew. For the Scheduled Vessel to be seaworthy, it and
its crew must be reasonably proper and suitable for its
intended use.
The policy defined "Scheduled Vessel" as:
[T]he vessel described on the declaration page,
including machinery, electrical equipment, sails, masts,
spars, rigging, and all other equipment normally
required for the operation and maintenance of the vessel
and situate on the Scheduled Vessel, which would
normally be sold with the vessel. This does not include
2 The relevant facts for review of summary judgment are
undisputed, except as noted. See Underwriters at Lloyd's v.
Labarca, 260 F.3d 3, 5 (1st Cir. 2001).
3 Great Lakes claims that Andersson chose the locations,
whereas Andersson claims the broker chose the locations with little
input from him and that his language barrier prevented him from
specifying the correct locations.
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spare parts of the Scheduled Vessel, the Scheduled
Vessel’s life raft, tender or dinghy unless the same has
been declared on the declaration page, nor does it
include any items being stored on premises other than on
board the Scheduled Vessel.
Andersson alleges that he intended to pick up the vessel in Grenada
after it was repaired and sail to Aruba before he ended his journey
in Sint Maarten.4 It is unclear whether there were, or were not,
any paper charts on the vessel at the time of the policy's
inception.5
On December 14, 2019, Andersson left Aruba for Sint
Maarten having checked the weather forecasts for the intended route
without issue. The intended route was around the southeastern tip
of Aruba, then northeast to clear the Venezuelan Islands.
Andersson then planned to head east toward Grenada and then north
to Sint Maarten. After rounding the southeastern tip of Aruba and
attempting to head northeast, the winds increased and caused his
crewmember to become seasick. Andersson headed more northward,
attempting to avoid damage from the waves and ease his crewmember’s
seasickness. Eventually, the winds pushed Andersson northwesterly
toward the Dominican Republic, at which point he realized his radio
4While commonly referred to as Saint Martin, we chose to
provide the island's proper Dutch name, Sint Maarten.
5Great Lakes claims that at the inception of the policy, the
only current paper charts on the vessel were for the Leeward
Islands, Windward Islands, and Aruba. Andersson, however, claims
that there is no evidence that any paper charts were on the vessel
at the inception of the policy.
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transmitter was broken. He called the agent who sold him the
vessel who suggested Andersson dock in Boca Chica, Dominican
Republic, for repairs.
On December 17, 2019, within the policy's period of
coverage, while waiting to dock in Boca Chica, the vessel ran
aground on a breakwater. It is undisputed that at the time the
vessel left for its voyage, the same had updated paper charts
onboard for the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, and Aruba,
all of which were on Andersson's intended course from Aruba to
Sint Maarten. The vessel also had electronic charts on its Garmin
GPS for the Dominican Republic which were outdated and did not
show the breakwater.6 More current charts that were available,
but not on board, in December 2018 did show the breakwater. The
other GPS onboard, the Raymarine, did not have charts for the
Dominican Republic. It is also undisputed that the vessel lacked
up-to-date paper charts for Florida, the Bahamas, and the Western
Caribbean during the trip from Aruba to Sint Maarten.
B. Procedural History
Following the breakwater incident, Andersson requested
coverage and Great Lakes filed a declaratory judgment to determine
whether the loss of the vessel was covered by the policy, claiming
6 Andersson disputes the fact that the Garmin was never
updated, however, it is undisputed that the Garmin did not show
the breakwater and that updated Garmin charts did.
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the vessel was unseaworthy due to the lack of up-to-date paper
charts for Florida, the Bahamas, the Western Caribbean, and the
Dominican Republic. Thereafter, before judgment, Great Lakes
denied coverage claiming Andersson neglected to maintain the
vessel in a seaworthy condition per federal admiralty law and the
policy. Andersson counterclaimed, alleging a claim of breach of
contract and a claim of equitable estoppel. As to the breach of
contract claim, Andersson alleged that the vessel was seaworthy at
all times, maintaining up-to-date paper charts for its intended
voyage. Great Lakes moved for summary judgment on its declaratory
judgment claim, alleging that the lack of updated paper charts for
Florida, the Bahamas, the Western Caribbean, and the Dominican
Republic rendered the vessel unseaworthy. Andersson filed a motion
for partial summary judgment on the breach of contract claim.
The district court held a summary judgment motion
hearing on December 19, 2022, before issuing its order on March 21,
2023. The district court denied Great Lakes' motion for summary
judgment and granted Andersson's motion for partial summary
judgment. The district court determined that Great Lakes had not
proven that the vessel was unseaworthy under federal admiralty law
and the policy. The district court granted Andersson's motion for
summary judgment as to his breach of contract claim, and denied
Great Lakes motion for summary judgment as to its declaratory
judgment claim.
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II. Discussion7
Great Lakes makes a single argument on appeal: The
district court erred as a matter of law by refusing to enforce the
policy's express definition of seaworthiness. But in making this
argument, Great Lakes also relies on the absolute implied warranty
of seaworthiness, which it contends was incorporated into the
policy. Great Lakes claims that the policy's express warranty of
seaworthiness is at least coextensive with the implied warranty of
seaworthiness based in federal admiralty law, and that the district
court erred by interpreting this implied warranty too narrowly.
But even if the implied warranty of seaworthiness does not require
a vessel to carry up-to-date charts for every single location that
could be navigated under the policy's coverage area, Great Lakes
argues that the policy's plain language imposes such a requirement.
Because the policy's express warranty requires a vessel to have
adequate "parts, equipment and gear" to be seaworthy, Great Lakes
asserts that the district court violated fundamental principles of
7 Great Lakes and Andersson both make references to "charts,"
"paper charts," and "electronic charts" in their briefs.
Throughout the discussion, we use the terms "charts" and "paper
charts." However, regardless of the term used, our ruling applies
to any type of chart.
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contract interpretation by finding that the policy did not require
the vessel to have the charts on board.
Ultimately, we must determine whether either warranty
required the vessel to carry up-to-date charts for all geographic
areas covered by the policy in order to be considered seaworthy.
We begin with the implied warranty of seaworthiness. Like the
district court, we find no precedent to suggest that the implied
warranty imposes such a requirement. Therefore, we proceed to the
express terms of the policy.
A. Standard of Review
A district court's summary judgment ruling is reviewed
de novo. O'Neill v. Baker, 210 F.3d 41, 46 (1st Cir. 2000). In
this case, Andersson filed a cross-motion for summary judgment,
but "[t]he presence of [the same] neither dilutes nor distorts
this standard of review." Mandel v. Bos. Phx., Inc., 456 F.3d
198, 205 (1st Cir. 2006). "[W]e must scrutinize the record in the
light most favorable to the summary judgment loser . . . ." All.
of Auto. Mfrs. v. Gwadosky, 430 F.3d 30, 34 (1st Cir. 2005).
B. Absolute Implied Warranty of Seaworthiness
Under admiralty law, there is an absolute implied
warranty applicable to all marine insurance contracts.8 See
8Under American federal admiralty law, there are two distinct
implied warranties that attach to all time hull policies: the
absolute implied warranty that attaches at inception, and the
continuing implied warranty that is recognized at the commencement
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Labarca, 260 F.3d at 7. The absolute implied warranty requires
that the insured vessel be seaworthy at the inception of the
policy. See Schoenbaum, supra, at 505-06; Emps. Ins. of Wausau v.
Occidental Petroleum Corp., 978 F.2d 1422, 1431-32 (5th Cir. 1992).
If the vessel is not seaworthy at the policy's inception, then the
policy is void. See Schoenbaum, supra, at 507. The insurer bears
the burden of proving the unseaworthiness. See Cont'l Ins. Co. v.
Lone Eagle Shipping Ltd. (Liber.), 952 F. Supp. 1046, 1067
(S.D.N.Y. 1997). "[S]eaworthiness can be established by
demonstrating that the vessel was well-maintained." Carib
Resorts, Inc. v. Watkins Underwriters at Lloyds, Syndicate No.
457, No. 16-25024-CV-GRAHAM/SIMONTON, 2018 WL 8048755, at *16
(S.D. Fla. Mar. 20, 2018) (citing Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) PLC
v. Kan-Do, Inc., No. 8:12-cv-2923-T-33TGW, 2014 WL 12573013, at *5
(M.D. Fla. June 16, 2014)). "[A] finding of unseaworthiness is
of each individual voyage the vessel takes. See Thomas J.
Schoenbaum, Admiralty and Maritime Law 505-07 (6th ed. 2018 & Supp.
2023). Both Great Lakes and Andersson refer to, and seem to
accept, both implied warranties in their briefs. The district
court also utilized both implied warranties in its summary judgment
order. However, Great Lakes stated that this appeal pertains only
to "the first warranty, the absolute warranty of seaworthiness
that applies at the inception of every policy of marine insurance"
as its argument concerns the vessel's seaworthiness at the time of
the inception of the policy, not its continuing seaworthiness.
Therefore, we omit discussion on the second implied warranty of
seaworthiness and focus only on the absolute implied warranty.
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not affected by whether the owner was or was not negligent or at
fault." Labarca, 260 F.3d at 8.
The cases considering the issue find that the absolute
implied warranty concerns whether the physical condition of the
vessel and its equipment are sufficient for the vessel's intended
use. See Michalic v. Cleveland Tankers, Inc., 364 U.S. 325, 331
(1960) (discussing whether a worn grip on a wrench rendered the
vessel unseaworthy); Martinez v. Sea Land Servs., Inc., 763 F.2d
26, 27-28 (1st Cir. 1985) (determining a summary judgment ruling
was erroneous because seaworthiness extends to a plastic sleeve
covering a box); Axis Reinsurance Co. v. Resmondo, No.
8:08-cv-569-T-33TBM, 2009 WL 1537903, *4 (M.D. Fla. June 2, 2009)
(determining whether fractured gimbal ring rendered vessel
unseaworthy at inception); Royal Ins. Co. of Am. v. Deep Sea Int'l,
No. 02 Civ. 3175 (KMW)(FM), 2006 WL 8454021, *6-8 (S.D.N.Y. Mar.
24, 2006) (discussing repair and maintenance of the vessel in
regard to absolute implied warranty). "A vessel is unseaworthy if
it is not fit and 'is unable to withstand the perils of an ordinary
voyage.'" Home Ins. Co. v. Pan Am. Grain Mfg. Co., Inc., 397 F.3d
12, 13 n.2 (1st Cir. 2005) (quoting Unseaworthy, Black's Law
Dictionary (6th ed. 1990)); Hubbard v. Faros Fisheries, Inc., 626
F.2d 196, 199 (1st Cir. 1980) ("[T]emporary and unforeseeable
malfunction or failure of a piece of equipment under proper and
expected use is sufficient to
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establish . . . unseaworthiness . . . ."); cf. United States v.
Rivera, 131 F.3d 222, 233 n.16 (1st Cir. 1997) (Torruella, J.,
concurring) ("The warranty of seaworthiness provides that the
owner of a vessel owes an absolute duty to seamen to provide a
ship's hull, gear, appliances, ways, and appurtenances which are
reasonably fit for their intended purpose, Mitchell v. Trawler
Racer, Inc., 362 U.S. 539, 80 S. Ct. 926, 4 L.Ed.2d 941 (1960), as
well as to appoint a competent master and a crew adequate in their
number and competent for their duty, Usner v. Luckenbach Overseas
Corp., 400 U.S. 494, 91 S. Ct. 514, 27 L.Ed.2d 562 (1971).").
To make the vessel seaworthy under the absolute implied
warranty, Andersson was not required to keep up-to-date paper
charts on board for every covered location from the inception of
the policy. Great Lakes contends that the district court
"refuse[d] to consider whether the lack of current, updated charts
rendered the [v]essel unfit for its 'intended purpose' at the
inception of the [p]olicy." This is simply incorrect. The
district court did consider this in the context of the absolute
implied warranty of seaworthiness when it found that "there are no
cases in which the court held that a lack of up-to-date maps voids
an insurance policy from its inception under the [f]irst
[w]arranty; the [c]ourt found none where the argument was even
made." In addition, the district court found that Great Lakes was
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not claiming a deficiency in the physical condition of the vessel,
therefore the absolute implied warranty does not apply.
As noted above, the absolute implied warranty has been
interpreted by caselaw to pertain to the physical condition of the
vessel. There have been no cases that have determined out-of-date
paper charts to be a violation of the absolute implied warranty of
seaworthiness. In addition, Great Lakes' argument that up-to-date
paper charts for any location the vessel could navigate during the
entirety of the policy coverage area are required on the vessel at
the inception of the policy is simply unreasonable. It is
difficult to ascertain how Andersson could predict exactly where
his vessel would dock in every port in the Caribbean if the dock
were not on his intended voyage, let alone account for the myriad
of updates that might occur over the course of the policy.
Therefore, the absolute implied warranty, which attaches at the
inception of the policy and renders the policy void if the vessel
was unseaworthy, does not support Great Lakes' argument that
up-to-date charts for every location that could be navigated under
the entirety of the coverage area are required when the policy
attaches to deem a vessel seaworthy.
The cases that Great Lakes cites do not alter this
conclusion. Although the existence of up-to-date paper charts may
go to a breach of the continuing implied warranty of seaworthiness,
not at issue here, the cases that Great Lakes cites do not stand
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for the proposition that a vessel must have up-to-date paper charts
from the policy's inception to satisfy the absolute implied
warranty of seaworthiness. Crucially, the cases cited analyze
only whether the party responsible for that breach met the privity
or knowledge portion associated with that continuing implied
warranty, not the absolute implied warranty, or had knowledge of
the condition pursuant to the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act.9
See Cont'l Ins. Co., 952 F. Supp. at 1070; Union Oil of Cal.
9
v. M/V Point Dover, 756 F.2d 1223, 1229 (5th Cir. 1985) (analyzing
whether the failure to keep up-to-date charts and maps breached
the continuing implied warranty based on actual knowledge); Dir.
Gen. of India Supply Mission for & ex rel. President of Union of
India v. S.S. Maru, 459 F.2d 1370, 1371 (2d Cir. 1972) (considering
whether the defendant could successfully raise the defense of the
shipowner's negligence under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act);
The W.W. Bruce, 94 F.2d 834, 837 (2d Cir. 1938) ("The burden of
proving the exercise of due diligence to make the ship seaworthy
is upon the owner . . . ." (emphasis added)); The Maria, 91 F.2d
819, 824 (4th Cir. 1937) (asking whether the shipowner exercised
"due diligence" under the continuing implied warranty); Matter of
Complaint of Supreme Towing Co. Inc., No. 07-9231, 2010 WL
11561150, at *22 (E.D. La. Aug. 12, 2010) ("Having established
that the CAPT. BRENNAN was unseaworthy, and that the CAPT.
BRENNAN’s unseaworthy condition was the proximate cause of its
allision with Well #14, the Court must now determine whether
Supreme Towing had privity or knowledge of the CAPT. BRENNAN’s
unseaworthy condition."); In re TT Boat Corp., No. CIV A 98-494,
1999 WL 223165, at *10–11 (E.D. La. Apr. 14, 1999) (analyzing under
46 U.S.C. § 183(a) whether the captain possessed knowledge of the
lack of up-to-date charts that led to the vessel's
unseaworthiness); Complaint of Thebes Shipping, Inc., 486 F. Supp.
436, 438 (S.D.N.Y. 1980) (discussing COGSA's due diligence
standard); Complaint of Delphinus Maritima, S.A., 523 F. Supp.
583, 593 (S.D.N.Y. 1981) ("Having brought this action, the initial
burden was on the vessel owner to show no fault on its part or if
there was fault, that the fault was without personal knowledge."
(citing Tug Ocean Prince, Inc. v. United States, 584 F.2d 1151,
1155 (2d Cir. 1978))).
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C. Express Warranty of Seaworthiness
We next consider whether the policy's express
seaworthiness warranty required Andersson to carry the charts in
question. Under New York law, which governs the policy here, "the
[c]ourt should interpret an insurance contract 'to give effect to
the intent of the parties as expressed in the clear language of
the contract.'" Royal Indem. Co. v. Deep Sea Int'l, 619 F. Supp.
2d 14, 18 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (quoting Parks Real Estate Purchasing
Grp. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 472 F.3d 33, 42 (2d Cir.
2006)). "An insurance policy should be read in light of common
speech and the reasonable expectations of a businessperson."
Pepsico, Inc. v. Winterthur Int'l Am. Ins. Co., 788 N.Y.S.2d 142,
144 (N.Y. App. Div. 2004) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted). Each provision should be given "full meaning and
effect." LaSalle Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Nomura Asset Cap. Corp., 424
F.3d 195, 206 (2d Cir. 2005) (quoting Shaw Grp., Inc. v. Triplefine
Int'l Corp., 322 F.3d 115, 121 (2d Cir. 2003)). In addition,
"[t]he rule that insurance policies are to be construed in favor
of the insured is most rigorously applied in construing the meaning
of exclusions incorporated into a policy of insurance or provisions
seeking to narrow the insurer's liability." Ingersoll Milling
Mach. Co. v. M/V Bodena, 829 F.2d 293, 306 (2d Cir. 1987). These
insurance policies "are to be accorded a strict and narrow
construction." Pioneer Tower Owners Ass'n v. State Farm Fire &
- 14 -
Cas. Co., 908 N.E.2d 875, 877 (N.Y. 2009). "Every clause or word
is deemed to have some meaning." Mazzaferro v. RLI Ins. Co., 50
F.3d 137, 140 (2d Cir. 1995).
Great Lakes argues that insurance contracts, just like
other contracts, must be read as a whole, giving meaning to each
clause and provision. The insurance policy at issue here includes
a seaworthiness warranty provision, the definition of
seaworthiness, and the definition of a scheduled vessel, detailed
above. Ultimately, Great Lakes argues that the district court
failed to follow New York law when it did not interpret these
provisions to have required Andersson to carry the charts in
question. Narrowly interpreting the policy, as required under New
York law, and considering the language used by Great Lakes leaves
its argument baseless.
Although Great Lakes primarily objects to the district
court's failure to rely on the policy's language, it concedes that
the district court did quote part of the policy's definition of
seaworthiness. Great Lakes nonetheless contends that the district
court "neutered" the policy's express definition of seaworthy when
it did not include up-to-date paper charts in its interpretation
of the language "parts, equipment and gear." However, this is not
so. The district court simply found that Great Lakes'
interpretation was not supported by the express terms of the
policy, precedent, or common sense. To construe the express
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warranty in such a way would be to require a vessel to have and
maintain updated paper charts for every location in the area where
it could navigate at all times from the time the policy commences
which, as we stated above, is completely unreasonable and
unsupported by admiralty caselaw. Further, interpreting the
policy in this manner would render the policy void from its
inception whether the vessel ran aground or not. In addition, the
district court compared this case to that of Acadia Ins. Co. v.
Hansen, which had a similar express warranty of seaworthiness.
See 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75760 (E.D.N.Y. 2022). The court
determined there that "the applicable measure for a breach of
express warranty of seaworthiness is whether the vessel was fit
for its voyage intended when it embarked." Id. at *91. The
district court used this holding to clarify that an express
warranty of seaworthiness concerns whether the vessel was equipped
for its specific intended course, not for every location that could
be navigated under the entirety of the policy coverage area at its
inception, rendering Great Lakes' argument meritless.
Great Lakes argues that the district court should have
taken a closer look at the policy's language. But doing so only
confirms that the district court reached the correct outcome.
First, nowhere in the express terms of the policy are charts
required or mentioned, nor do they qualify under the definition of
a "Scheduled Vessel." Narrowly construing the policy's definition
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of "Scheduled Vessel," charts cannot be recognized as an included
element. Charts are not "machinery, electrical equipment, sails,
masts, spars, or rigging."10 And although charts are arguably
"equipment normally required for the operations and maintenance of
the vessel," they are not "normally . . . sold with the vessel,"
and therefore do not qualify as part of the "Scheduled Vessel."
In the definition of seaworthiness, it is not clearly stated that
10 Machinery is defined as "machines in general or as a
functioning unit," "the working parts of a machine," or "the means
or system by which something is kept in action or a desired result
is obtained." Electrical is "of, relating to, or operated by
electricity" which by its terms excludes paper charts when in
reference to equipment. Sails are "an extent of fabric (such as
canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a ship through
water" or "the sails of a ship." A mast is "a long pole or spar
rising from the keel or deck of a ship and supporting the yards,
booms, and rigging" or "a slender vertical or nearly vertical
structure (such as an upright post in various cranes)." A spar is
"a stout pole" or "a stout rounded usually wood or metal piece
(such as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging."
Rigging is "lines and chains used aboard a ship especially in
working sail and supporting masts and spars." Machinery,
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machinery (last
visited Dec. 21, 2023); Electrical, Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrical
(last visited Dec. 21, 2023); Sail, Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sail (last
visited Dec. 21, 2023); Mast, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mast (last visited
Dec. 21, 2023); Spar, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spar (last visited on
Dec. 21, 2023); Rigging, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigging (last visited
Dec. 21, 2023); cf. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, (11th
ed. 2020); Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed. 2003)
(providing the same definitions for each term with the omission of
"such" in the parentheticals).
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charts are considered "parts, equipment or gear" and Great Lakes
has provided no caselaw, as discussed above, to support that
interpretation. Insurance contracts are to be construed against
the insurer, further weakening Great Lakes' argument that "charts"
should be read into the policy. See Ingersoll Milling Mach. Co.,
829 F.2d at 306-07 (construing the meaning of provisions seeking
to narrow insurer's liability in favor of the insured).
Second, at no point do the express terms of the policy
warranty require a higher standard at any particular time, most
notably not at the inception of the agreement. The warranty
provision of seaworthiness only requires that the 1) "[s]cheduled
[v]essel" 2) must be "seaworthy" 3) "at all times" 4) "during the
duration of [the] insuring agreement." The only mention of the
inception of the policy is in the warranty where it notes that the
policy would be void from its inception if the vessel was not
seaworthy "at all times." What the policy does not do is require
that the vessel itself must be seaworthy in the specific sense
that it maintain updated charts for every location that could be
navigated under the entirety of the policy coverage area, from the
inception of the policy. Therefore, the argument that updated
paper charts are required on board at the inception of the policy
for every area covered by the policy is unsupported by the express
language of the policy.
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Third, even if it were to be determined that updated
paper charts were included in "parts, equipment and gear," there
is a difference in language used in the definition of seaworthiness
between the vessel's intended "purpose" and intended "use." As
the definition states, "[f]or the Scheduled Vessel to be seaworthy,
it . . . must be reasonably proper and suitable for its intended
use." Intended "use" is not defined or limited in the policy
language. The intended "use" of the vessel could change daily
depending on the journey embarked upon or the activities pursued,
requiring different "parts, equipment and gear" for each "use."
In addition, the two different phrases within the provision,
"intended use" and "intended purpose," are to be given their own
full effect and meaning, per New York law. See LaSalle Bank Nat'l
Ass'n, 424 F.3d at 206; Theater Guild Prods., Inc. v. Ins. Corp.
of Ir., 267 N.Y.S.2d 297, 300-01 (N.Y. App. Div. 1966).
In addition to its main argument that the policy language
was not applied, Great Lakes also argues that affirmation of the
district court order would render a vessel unseaworthy in a tort
liability sense due to a lack of updated charts, but seaworthy in
an insurance dispute even with the lack of updated charts. This
argument fails. We see nothing to suggest that a vessel would be
liable in tort for failing to carry paper charts for routes it
never intended to sail.
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Great Lakes lastly attempts to argue that the district
court order gave no reasonable basis for asserting that Great Lakes
could not expressly enforce the definition of seaworthiness
provided in Labarca, which Great Lakes claims to have mirrored in
its own policy. Rather, Labarca stands for the proposition that
we have outlined above: that a vessel's seaworthiness depends upon
whether it is "reasonably fit for [its] intended use[,]" which
itself turns upon the circumstances. Labarca, 260 F.3d at 7(quoting Trawler Racer, Inc., 362 U.S. at 550). We have never
held, nor do we now, that this finding turns upon one irrelevant
facet of a vessel's voyage that bears no connection to whether it
is reasonably fit for its intended use. The notion that Great
Lakes was relying on Labarca, which therefore means charts for
every location that could be navigated under the entirety of the
policy coverage area are included in the determination of
seaworthiness at a policy's inception, is unsupported and fails as
this is not what Labarca held.
When we narrowly construe the policy, read it as a whole,
and give meaning to each of its words and provisions, we conclude
it cannot reasonably be read to require updated paper charts for
every location that could be navigated under the entirety of the
policy coverage area to be on board at the inception of the policy.
In addition, there is no precedent supporting the claim that
updated paper charts for every location that could be navigated
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under the entirety of the policy coverage area are required to
have been on board the vessel at the inception of the policy.
Therefore, Great Lakes' arguments fail and the district court's
order in favor of Andersson for partial summary judgment was
warranted.
III. Conclusion
The district court's order finding Andersson to be
covered by the policy is
Affirmed.
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