Nestor Yerostathis, AKA Nestor Gerostathis v. A. Luisi, Ltd., and Shipping Developments Corp.

Nestor Yerostathis, appellant herein, is a Greek citizen and seaman. On June 17, 1963, in Belgium, he signed on as Second Engineer aboard the M.V. ARGO ELLAS, using a contract written entirely in Greek. Appellee Shipping Developments Corporation, the owner of the M.V. ARGO ELLAS, is incorporated in Panama, has its principal place of business in Piraeus, Greece, and has no citizens of the United States among its stockholders. It registered the M.V. ARGO ELLAS under the Greek flag and manned it exclusively with Greek subjects. Appellee A. Luisi, Ltd. acts as general agents for the M.V. ARGO EL-LAS, being responsible for the general operation of the vessel subject to instructions from its owner. It, too, has no American stockholders.

On October 8, 1963, appellant was injured in the course of his employment aboard the M.V. ARGO ELLAS and two days later he was repatriated by air from Chittagong, Pakistan, to Greece where he was attended by Greek doctors. All expenses for his transportation and treatment were paid for by Shipping Developments Corporation.

The contract appellant signed included the following provision as translated from Greek:

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