J. Lauritzen A/s Lauritzen Reefers A/s v. Dashwood Shipping, Ltd.

J. Lauritzen A/S and Lauritzen Reefers A/S (“Lauritzen”) appeal the district court’s dismissal of their maritime attachment action for lack of admiralty subject matter jurisdiction. Lauritzen contends that the district court erred in concluding it lacked admiralty jurisdiction over the alleged tortious interference with a contract. Dashwood Shipping Ltd. (“Dashwood”) argues that this court lacks jurisdiction to hear the appeal because of the district court’s release of the attachment against the vessel. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we affirm.

I

Lauritzen, a shipping company, entered into a Reefer Pool Agreement with Uni Reefer, the former owner of the M/V BELINDA. According to the agreement, the M/V BELINDA, with other reefer vessels, would be managed and operated by Lauritzen as part of a pool. The pool agreement provided that various owners of vessels would allow Laurit-zen to manage the commercial shipping operations of the vessels and share the trading revenues. The pool agreement restricted sale of the vessels and operation outside the pool.

On May 11, 1994, Uni Reefer sold the M/V BELINDA to Dashwood. Dashwood notified Lauritzen of its intention…