Owner of the US flagged purse seiner vessel F/V Koorale, which supplies fish for StarKist Samoa, has filed a multi-million lawsuit against the owners of another US purse seiner, American Eagle, over an incident that occurred more than 1,000 miles from Pago Pago last year.
M & F Fishing, Inc., a Nevada corporation, filed the complaint more than a week ago at the federal court in Tampa, Florida.
The company is seeking $20.5 million in property damage and consequential economic harm arising from a June 17, 2019 collision on the high seas which the plaintiff alleges was caused by American Eagle, which “struck the Koorale’ s port side bow quarter at full or near full speed, causing the Koorale severe damage.”
The complaint — against defendants American Eagle Fishing LLC, a Florida based company and its affiliates — states that both vessels operate in and out of American Samoa, based on US Coast Guard documents.
On the day of the collision, the Koorale had been at sea fishing for approximately 18 days and “had been reasonably successful in her catch to that day, having caught approximately 400 metric tons.”
Plaintiff alleges that American Eagle struck the Koorale and American Eagle’s blow caused severe damage to the Koorale’s hull, machinery, equipment, and supplies as a result of the collision, which was then reported to the US Coast Guard, which conducted an investigation.
Defendants are expected to file their response soon.
