Abandoned Vessels in Berths in Marinas – Marina Operator Liability : [case review]

Sa？etak The permanent berthing contract was terminated after the expiry of the contract period. After the termination of the contract, the berth user (the plaintiff) did not collect the vessel, thus it remained in berth in the marina. Because the vessel was not used and maintained, the wood construction decayed. The marina (the defendant) undertook all the measures needed to protect the plaintiff’s property and to prevent the vessel from sinking, recovered the vessel from the sea and put it in dry berth. The berth user in dispute has not proven the existence of any assumptions for the marina operator’s liability for damage pursuant to the berthing contract. The berthing contract further excludes the obligation of the marina to settle the damage to the vessel caused by the non-maintenance, neglect, waste and wearing out thereof, and no obligation of the marina to maintain the plaintiff’s vessel was foreseen by the contract. The plaintiff has neither proven the assumptions for the extra-contractual liability of the marina