Croatian Yacht Management Firm Sues Luxury Yacht Owner Over Unpaid Crew Wages and Maritime Liens
Argiros D.O.O., a yacht management company based in Croatia, has filed a significant maritime lawsuit against Marmer Investments Limited and the luxury vessel M/Y Kaiser. The legal action, filed in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:26-cv-22409-RKA, seeks the recovery of over €400,000 in unpaid crew wages and the foreclosure of maritime liens against the 196-foot motor yacht.
Yacht Management Company Seeks Recovery of Crew Wages Advanced for M/Y Kaiser Operations
The complaint alleges that Argiros, acting as the management firm for the M/Y Kaiser, advanced substantial funds to cover the salaries of the vessel’s crew members. According to court documents, these payments were made at the direction of the vessel’s captain, who acted as an authorized agent for the owner. The management firm asserts that it paid a total of €424,633.63 across several periods between June 2024 and February 2025 to ensure the vessel remained operational, seaworthy, and properly crewed. Despite formal demands for reimbursement, the owner, Marmer Investments Limited, has allegedly failed to repay the outstanding balance.
Lawsuit Demands Arrest of Luxury Motor Yacht M/Y Kaiser to Satisfy Outstanding Maritime Liens
Because the advanced funds were used to pay for “necessaries”—specifically crew wages essential to the operation and navigation of the vessel—Argiros claims it now holds valid maritime liens against the M/Y Kaiser. The management firm is seeking to foreclose these liens and has requested that the United States District Court issue a warrant for the arrest of the vessel while it is located within the Southern District of Florida. The plaintiff argues that the yacht is a mobile asset that could be moved outside the court’s jurisdiction, which would jeopardize the firm’s ability to recover the debt.
Argiros Alleges Unjust Enrichment Against Cayman Islands-Based Owner of Luxury Vessel
In addition to the foreclosure of maritime liens, the lawsuit includes a claim for unjust enrichment against Marmer Investments Limited. Argiros contends that the owner knowingly accepted and benefited from the management firm’s services, including the critical payment of crew salaries, without providing compensation. The complaint states that the owner used the yacht for personal benefit while the plaintiff carried the financial burden of maintaining its operational status. The plaintiff asserts that equity and good conscience require the defendants to reimburse the advanced funds, interest, and legal costs.
Plaintiff Claims Priority Liens Through Equitable Subrogation for Seamen’s Wages
The legal team for Argiros argues that by paying the crew’s wages, the management firm became equitably subrogated to the crew members’ own preferred maritime liens. Under maritime law, wage liens are typically given high priority, and Argiros asserts that it now holds liens of the same dignity and status. The lawsuit details specific salary notifications issued by the captain for various crew positions, including relief captains, engineers, stewardesses, and deckhands, as evidence of the debt incurred for the vessel’s benefit.
Contact a Maritime Lien and Yacht Management Dispute Lawyer if You Are Owed for Vessel Services
Vendors, management companies, and crew members who provide essential services or “necessaries” to luxury vessels have specific rights under maritime law to ensure they are paid. If a vessel owner has failed to reimburse you for operational costs or wages, you may be entitled to assert a maritime lien and seek the arrest of the vessel. Our experienced maritime attorneys specialize in high-stakes yachting disputes and debt recovery.
Contact us now to speak with a maritime lawyer about your potential claim.
Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
