Stewart v. Dutra Construction Co., Supreme Court of the United States, February 22, 2005 [ruling that a dredge qualifies as a "vessel" under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act [LHWCA] for purposes of seeking personal injury compensation under the Jones Act]. Excerpt from the court's opinion by Justice Thomas:

At the time that Congress enacted the LHWCA and since, Rev. Stat. §3, now 1 U.S.C. §3, has defined the term "vessel " in the LHWCA. Under §3, a "vessel " is any watercraft practically capable of maritime transportation, regardless of its primary purpose or state of transit at a particular moment.Because the Super Scoop was engaged in maritime transportation at the time of Stewart 's injury, it was a vessel within the meaning of 1 U.S.C. §3.

Read the full text of the opinion here [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.