Archive for October 2014
Drunk Boater Hits Rock, Sinks Vessel in Boston Harbor
On average, alcohol use is a factor in almost a third of all recreational boating fatalities in the U.S., according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Thankfully, a recreational boating accident that occurred in Boston Harbor in late September did not result in any fatalities. Still, it did leave a vessel sunk in the harbor and…
Read MoreFuel Leak Prevented After Refueling Barge Takes on Water
Fuel leaking into the water from a vessel could spell disaster for many reasons, including: Leaving the vessel stranded Putting the crew in danger of injury or death if the boat catches on fire or explodes Damaging the environment Recently, firefighters had to be called in to keep a refueling barge from sinking or leaking…
Read MoreLarger Boat Crashes Into Smaller Boat, Claims Woman’s Life
Like big rigs and small cars sharing the highway, larger vessels and small watercraft often share the same waterways. In both cases, the larger and smaller vehicles have to be extra careful around one another, because due to their size difference, a collision between the two will many times prove fatal. Unfortunately, a recreational boating…
Read MoreCrewman Missing After Falling Off Barge
It is very important for the owner and operator of any vessel to make sure it is as safe as possible for anyone riding it. This is true whether the ship is used for work or play, and it is especially important at times when environmental issues, such as the weather or even nightfall, add…
Read MoreCould a Ferry Crash Into a Pier?
Could a Ferry Crash Into a Pier? Ferry crashes often have devastating results. When you’re riding on the road in a car or truck, you are very aware of how often auto accidents occur, so you keep your guard up. However, for those riding ferryboats, their guard is often down because people are less used…
Read MoreCrews Rescued Following Multi-Vessel Dredging Accident
In the middle of any kind of major accident or disaster, the most important thing is to save as many lives and prevent as many injuries as possible. However, in the wake of such an event, the focus often shifts to helping victims put their lives back together, figuring out what caused the incident and…
Read MoreCould My Car Fall Off a Ferry Dock?
Could My Car Fall Off a Ferry Dock? According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) website, the auto capacity of the state’s Olympic Class ferries is 144 vehicles. In a tragic incident, ferry service in Southworth, Washington had to be halted recently after a fatal accident involving an SUV driving off a ferry…
Read MoreIs 90 Too Old to Operate a Boat?
While we are often quick to take the car keys away from elderly drivers, what about the keys to the boat? The factors that can cause seniors to be a danger to those on the road also apply to their fellow boaters. According to American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the risks that elderly drivers…
Read MoreBolivar Peninsula Traffic Halted Following Dredging Accident
Bolivar Peninsula Traffic Halted Following Dredging Accident Just like our highways, even shipping lanes become clogged with traffic from time to time. And similar to our roadways, those traffic jams are often caused by accidents. Recently, a dredging accident off the coast of Galveston, Texas held up traffic in the shipping lanes of the Bolivar…
Read MoreIs It Safe for Pleasure Boats and Towboats to Share the Water?
At 24 percent, two or more vessels colliding with each other ranked as the most common type of boating accident in Ohio in 2013, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. A recent Ohio River boating wreck involving a pleasure boat and a towboat has unfortunately added to Ohio’s 2014 death toll in the…
Read MoreFishing Boat Sinks After Coast Guard Cutter Crashes Into It
In a recent article about shipwrecks on the National Geographic Channel’s website, the author makes a point of mentioning that “the risk of crashing into another vessel remains high” in shipping lanes and harbors worldwide. Unfortunately, his words proved prophetic late last month when a 42-foot fishing boat sank after a 110-foot Coast Guard cutter…
Read MoreWhat Causes Ships to Sink?
From the Titanic to the Costa Concordia, when it comes to shipwrecks, there is only one thing that’s for sure: whenever anyone heads out on the water, the last thing they want to happen is to wind up a victim of such a disaster. And by and large, you would think as shipboard technology has…
Read MoreHow Does the Jones Act Protect American Maritime Workers?
The Jones Act has recently come under fire as businesses, oil refiners and think tanks push for repeal of the law in upcoming sessions. However, the Jones Act does more than just provide a cause of action for workers harmed by their employers – it protects American jobs. How Does the Jones Act Protect American…
Read MoreAm I at Risk of Inert Gas Suffocation in an Enclosed Space?
Am I at Risk of Inert Gas Suffocation in an Enclosed Space? Inert gases like argon don’t do much, which is why they are so useful in manual labor, like welding, where the work has to be performed in a non-combustible atmosphere to prevent fires or, worse, explosions, but while argon can make the work environment…
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