It's moored but not permanently moored at the Rikers Island Complex. It is required by the Coast Guard to maintain a maritime crew, including a mate, an engineer, and an oiler. So here's the question, if an inmate or an employee is injured on the barge would it fall under admiralty jurisdiction? Believe it or not it appears the question has never been litigated, at least I can't find it in my search of federal and New York cases.
As an employee on the Vernon C. Bain, and an employee of the NYC D.O.C., I am covered under worker's compensation laws in the State of New York, portal to portal, every day that I work. Admiralty Law does not come into play. The barge is semi permantly attached by two Crandall Arms to the pier. But if worker's comp could be supplemented by additional rulings within the admiralty laws, then I am sure that the Unions would have taken advantage of this when ever possible
ReplyDelete