Petterson

This is an appeal in admiralty from a decree of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Northern Division, denying recovery by'Petter-son, a stevedore, against Alaska Steamship Company, Inc., hereafter the Owner, for injuries received on the Owner’s steamship Susitna claimed to be caused by the ship’s unseaworthiness. The question presented is whether a vessel’s owner is liable for injuries received by an employee of a steve-doring company (an independent contractor) on board ship while engaged in the loading of the ship where the injuries are caused by a breaking block brought on board by the stevedoring company.

Libellant-Appellant Petterson was an employee of the Alaska Terminal and Steve-doring Co., hereafter Stevedoring Co. Stevedoring Co. was engaged by the Owner to load the latter’s vessel, the S. S. Susitna. In performing their duties, Stevedoring Co.’s employees used a block which was found lying unused on the vessel. It is not dear whether the block belonged to the ship or the Stevedoring Co., it being the type of equipment commonly found as part of the gear of both ships and stevedoring firms. For the purposes of this appeal, it will be…