Legal Definitions - vessel

In legal terms, a vessel refers to any watercraft or artificial contrivance that is used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. While this definition seems broad, its precise application can be crucial in maritime law, especially when determining if a structure qualifies for specific regulations or legal protections, such as those related to worker injuries or shipping liabilities.

The key elements are that it must be a structure designed to operate on water and its primary purpose, to a reasonable degree, must involve moving people, cargo, or equipment from one place to another across navigable waters.

• Example 1: A large oil tanker carrying crude oil from one continent to another.

  Explanation: This clearly qualifies as a vessel because it is a watercraft specifically designed and actively used for the transportation of cargo (oil) across vast stretches of navigable water, fulfilling the core purpose of moving goods from place to place.

• Example 2: A small ferry boat that regularly transports passengers and their vehicles across a river between two towns.

  Explanation: This is also a vessel. It is a watercraft that consistently operates on water, and its explicit purpose is the transportation of both people (passengers) and equipment (vehicles) across a defined route on navigable waters.

• Example 3: A floating restaurant that is permanently moored to a dock in a harbor, connected to shore utilities, and has not moved under its own power or by tug in decades.

  Explanation: In many legal contexts, this structure might not be considered a vessel, despite being a watercraft. While it floats on water, its permanent mooring and lack of intent or capability for regular navigation mean its primary purpose is no longer transportation. Its function has shifted from moving across water to serving as a stationary establishment, which can exclude it from certain maritime laws that apply specifically to vessels engaged in transportation.