Vessel Undergoing Overhaul Wasn't 'in Navigation'

A divided Texas Supreme Court ruled that a worker’s accident onboard a ship that was unable to engage in transportation fell outside the scope of the Jones Act, as a matter of law. Case: Helix Energy Solutions Group v. Gold, No. 16-0075, 06/11/2017, published. Facts: In August 2012, Helix Energy Solutions Group purchased a vessel known as the Helix 534. The 534 served her previous owner as a drill ship, but HESG had the vessel towed to a shipyard in Singapore to be converted into a well-intervention ship. This involved overhauling the engines, thrusters, generators and in-li...