In the case of Willard Stewart v. Dutra Construction Company, 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a dredge vessel used by Dutra Construction could be classified as a "vessel in navigation" under federal maritime law and thus subject to certain legal protections for seamen. The plaintiff, Willard Stewart, was injured while working on this dredge and sought compensation under the Jones Act which provides protection for seamen injured in their employment due to negligence of their employers. The court ruled that despite its primary function as a work platform rather than transportation means, the Super Scoop (the dredge) still qualified as a vessel because it was capable of movement across waterways during its ordinary course of business - even if it needed assistance from tugboats or other external sources for such movements. Therefore, Mr.Stewart's injury fell within jurisdictional purview of federal maritime law and he could seek remedies under Jones Act provisions.

In the dissenting opinion for Willard Stewart v. Dutra Construction Company, Justice Ginsburg argued that the Super Scoop, a floating platform used to dredge material from ocean floors and deposit it elsewhere, should be classified as a vessel under federal law. She contended that while the Super Scoop was not designed for transportation purposes per se, its ability to move across water with crew on board over significant distances made it functionally similar to other vessels. Therefore, she believed workers aboard such platforms should receive protections afforded by maritime laws just like any other seamen working on traditional ships or boats. Her interpretation of what constitutes a "vessel" was broader than her colleagues', emphasizing functionality rather than purpose in design.