Floyd v. Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. Inc. (The Shirley Lykes) - U.S. Ct. of Appeals (3rd Circuit) (Weis, Greenberg and Aldisert C.JJ.) - 21 April 1988

Deceased seaman buried at sea before next-of-kin notified - Whether violation of next-of-kin’s right of possession and burial - Whether actionable tort by vessel’s master

James H. Floyd, an ordinary seaman, died on board the S.S. Shirley Lykes during the night of 19 August 1983 as the result of a heart attack. The vessel was at sea passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, en route from Europe to Canada and the United States, eight days from her next port-of-call. The next day Floyd was buried at sea. The next-of-kin were not informed prior to the burial.