Florida Interior Design Company Sues to Arrest Luxury Yacht in Maritime Lien Dispute Before Departure to Italy
Yacht Dzign, LLC, a Naples-based marine interior design and repair firm, has filed an emergency admiralty action in the Southern District of Florida against a 2013 75′ Riva Motor Yacht. The in rem lawsuit, filed under Case No. 0:25-cv-61276-DSL, seeks to foreclose a $159,248.16 maritime lien for services rendered and to arrest the vessel before it leaves U.S. waters en route to Genoa, Italy.
Yacht Dzign Files Emergency Complaint to Secure Payment for Interior Work, Electrical, and Plumbing Repairs Aboard 75-Foot Riva Vessel
According to the verified complaint, Yacht Dzign provided high-end interior design, carpentry, upholstery, electrical, and plumbing services to the 2013 Riva motor yacht pursuant to a contract with the vessel’s owner. The company alleges the work was ordered by or through someone authorized to act on behalf of the yacht’s owner and that it delivered all services at a fair and reasonable cost. Despite submitting invoices upon project completion, Yacht Dzign claims the owner rejected demands for payment. The company is now seeking judicial intervention to foreclose its maritime lien under 46 U.S.C. § 31342 and Rule C of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims.
Plaintiff Alleges Imminent Departure of Defendant Yacht Threatens Court’s Jurisdiction Over Lien Enforcement
The emergency complaint states that the Defendant Vessel is scheduled to be shipped to Genoa, Italy as soon as June 26, 2025. Yacht Dzign argues that the yacht’s imminent departure will place it beyond the jurisdiction of the Southern District of Florida and render it impossible to foreclose the maritime lien. Because of this urgency, the plaintiff simultaneously filed two motions: one for the issuance of a warrant of arrest in rem, and another to appoint a substitute custodian. These actions aim to preserve the court’s authority over the vessel while the lien dispute is litigated.
Luxury Riva Yacht Faces Foreclosure and Potential Sale if Plaintiff’s Maritime Lien Is Not Satisfied
The lawsuit demands the arrest, condemnation, and judicial sale of the yacht—along with its engines, furnishings, and equipment—to satisfy the outstanding debt. Yacht Dzign seeks to apply the proceeds of the sale toward the unpaid balance, including prejudgment interest and costs. The company is also requesting the right to credit bid its lien amount during the sale, a standard practice in maritime foreclosures. The plaintiff asserts that its services enhanced the value of the yacht and qualify as “necessaries” under federal admiralty law, thereby justifying the lien.
Florida Maritime Contractors Should Assert Their Rights If Unpaid for Yacht Repairs or Marine Services
Under U.S. maritime law, suppliers of necessary goods or services to a vessel—including repair professionals, marine designers, and equipment installers—have the right to assert a maritime lien and seek foreclosure in federal court. If you or your business performed unpaid work on a yacht or commercial vessel, you may be entitled to legal remedies including vessel arrest and judicial sale. To explore your options under maritime law, contact our experienced admiralty attorneys today.
Contact us now to speak with a maritime lien enforcement lawyer.
