Archive for September 2014
Did a Lack of Employee Training Cause an On-Site Explosion?
Recently, a towing vessel anchored next to two Kirby barges at the Oil Recovery Company Gas Freeing Terminal (ORC), unaware that the barges were being cleared of residual diesel, sparked a fire that spread to the barges and finally resulted in explosions. Three sustained serious burn injuries. How Did This Explosion Happen at an ORC…
Read MoreJoin Us This Weekend at the Working Waterfront Festival!
Our firm is excited to be taking part in the 10th Annual Working Waterfront Festival, which will run from Saturday, September 27 (11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) through Sunday, September 28 (11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) on the Port of New Bedford’s Steamship Pier. (Admission to the festival is free, and free parking for the…
Read MoreCan Life Jackets Save Lives?
Can Life Jackets Save Lives? It seems like a ridiculous question to ask, but according to Laurel Anders, Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, “Almost 80 percent of all boating fatalities happen to boaters not wearing a life jacket.” Why Don’t People Wear Life Jackets? Many people don’t wear life jackets because they…
Read MoreCould Drones Replace Human Captains on Cargo Ships?
Could Drones Replace Human Captains on Cargo Ships? 75 percent of accidents at sea are caused by human error. A European Union-funded research project called MUNIN is hoping to make the seas a whole lot safer by creating autonomous ships that can sail themselves from port to port using drones. Are Drones Safer than Humans?…
Read MoreWhat Happens When Cars Crash on a Ferry?
Unforeseen accidents can happen at any time on a ferry; crews must be prepared for any eventuality. Sometimes, even the best trained crew can only stand by helplessly as a passenger does something no one could have prepared for. Earlier this month, when a driver aboard one of the vessels in the Cape May-Lewes Ferry…
Read MoreMan Falls from Sailboat and Drowns in Lake Ontario
Time and time again, we hear reports of experienced boaters succumbing to drowning accidents. Accidents can happen to anyone at any time, and we must do our best to follow safety guidelines and train properly for any given boating situation. No one is immune to the power of the water. Last month, a 49-year-old Erie…
Read MoreWhy Did a Recreational Boat Burst Into Flames?
Some boaters think life jackets are too cumbersome, and only necessary for “other people.” This kind of arrogance is bound to cause problems. Everyone should put on a life jacket before starting their boat’s engine. Just last month, for example, a boat burst into flames when its owner turned the ignition key. Authorities in Oklahoma…
Read MoreAre Groundings of Massive Freighters Inevitable or Avoidable?
Are Groundings of Massive Freighters Inevitable or Avoidable? Many cargo ship accidents are preventable, when ship owners follow proper safety precautions and properly train their crews in safety regulations. Injuries and wrongful deaths are often prevented on vessels with sufficient staffing, proper maintenance and safety training. Earlier this month, the motor vessel American Spirit ran…
Read MoreHow Safe Are Marina Refueling Stations?
We all love a day out on the boat. One of the things we must attend to before heading out on the water is getting the boat properly fueled up and ready to go. Refueling a boat is not something to take lightly. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye if you are…
Read MoreRemembering Those Who Lost Their Lives on 9/11
On this day, the attorneys and staff at Latti & Anderson LLP take time to remember the passengers, workers, firefighters, officers, emergency responders and all others who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The individuals who died during these attacks are not only victims; they were somebody’s loved one. This tragedy took the lives…
Read MoreWill My Kids Be Safe During a Boating Party?
Alcohol usage is the leading factor in U.S. recreational boating deaths, accounting for 17 percent in 2012. This means that alcohol abuse on the water is responsible for almost one in five American boating deaths. Unfortunately, many people do not seem to be learning from these sobering figures, and another case of drunk boating has…
Read MoreMaritime Attorneys Dedicated to Helping Those Injured at Sea or On Land
Latti & Anderson LLP is a family-owned firm that helps those injured at sea and on land, and has been doing so for more than five decades. Our maritime attorneys represent injured clients from not just New England but all over the country. Partner Carolyn Latti took over the firm her father, Michael Latti, started…
Read MoreLong Island Man Charged After Deadly Boating Accident
Boating while drinking is never a smart idea and can lead to tragic consequences. Even when a boat’s captain refrains from having a drink, a boat trip full of drunk passengers can end in tragedy just as easily—the better move is not to have alcohol onboard at all. In a horrific boating accident earlier this…
Read MoreNew Patented Water-Activated Life Raft
In far too many marine disasters, life rafts are in fact available for use, but passengers and crews either were not trained in how to deploy the life rafts, or the rafts were inaccessible. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime safety treaty, designed to ensure that…
Read MoreConnecticut Man Arrested After Drunk Boating Accident
Connecticut Man Arrested After Drunk Boating Accident Here at Latti & Anderson LLP, we have said it before, and we will keep saying it until people start to understand: drinking while boating is stupid and dangerous. Doing so not only puts boaters’ own lives at risk, it risks the lives of anyone else around them.…
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