Archive for December 2014
Is It Safe to Mass Produce Concrete on a Barge?
The Tappan Zee Bridge was built to provide a way for vehicles to travel across the Hudson River between Rockland and Westchester, New York. On average, about 138,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge, according to lohud.com. Due to the fact that the current Tappan Zee Bridge was not designed to handle the amount of…
Read MoreCould a Chain Hoist Cause a Barge Accident?
Could a Chain Hoist Cause a Barge Accident? Chain hoists, which consist of a pulley held together by a closed chain, are used to make lifting heavy objects and equipment easier. Unfortunately, a chain hoist is alleged to have played a role in the death of man while he was working on a barge, according…
Read MoreDo Cruise Ship Crews Know What to Do in Case of a Fire?
The last thing cruise ship passengers are often thinking about while onboard the vessel is that it’s going to catch on fire. However, it can happen, and when it does, passengers should be able to count on the crew to know what to do to keep them safe. Earlier this month, when a fire broke…
Read MoreIs It Safe to Use a Forklift While Working in a Cargo Hold?
The process of loading and unloading ships is known as stevedoring, and those who load and unload ships are known as stevedores, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Recently, a stevedore was injured in a forklift accident at the Alabama State Docks while in the cargo hold of a vessel. According to WFNA-TV, the incident happened…
Read MoreCould a Buoy Fall on Me While I’m Working on a Barge?
Could a Buoy Fall on Me While I’m Working on a Barge? Buoys are markers used to aid in maritime navigation, according to the United States Coast Guard. A 13th century manuscript, La Compasso de Navigare, contains the earliest recorded mention of a buoy, describing those used to help seamen as they arrived in Seville,…
Read MoreWhat Is Being Done to Prevent Man-Overboard Accidents?
From 2000 to 2009, 60 maritime workers died in man-overboard accidents while working on the waterways of the United States. In an effort to prevent man-overboard fatalities, the American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (also known as The American Club) implemented a loss prevention program called Man Overboard! in November. Man Overboard!…
Read MoreCould Our Barge Capsize While We’re Dredging?
Could Our Barge Capsize While We’re Dredging? Earlier this month, a dredging accident claimed the life of a barge crewmember in Wilmington, Delaware, according to WPVI-TV. The incident took place on a Tuesday around 7 p.m. on the Christina River near the Port of Wilmington. Three crewmembers, who all worked for the Norfolk Dredging Company,…
Read MoreIs the Boat That My Employer Has Me Using Safe?
Boats with tunnel hulls are built to capture a pocket of air under the hull, which helps reduce drag on the outside of the hull, allowing the vessel to handle better at higher speeds. Unfortunately, instead of handling better, a 17-foot tunnel hull boat reportedly handled worse, because it was allegedly used in the wrong…
Read MoreCould I Be Hurt in a Tugboat Accident Because of a Mate’s Mistake?
Could I Be Hurt in a Tugboat Accident Because of a Mate’s Mistake? In parts of the sea that have been explored and mapped extensively, known hazards are often charted to prevent vessels from colliding with them. Unfortunately, despite the fact that a pier that sunk in the late 1990s was a “known and charted…
Read MoreDoes Maritime Law Apply If I’m Hurt on Land Near the Water?
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act is a form of workers’ comp that provides those who are not members of a vessel crew with compensation if they are injured while working on or near the water, including: Damages for lost body parts Death benefits for surviving dependents Two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage…
Read MoreHow Can I Avoid Drowning?
In 2010, 72 percent of boating deaths were the result of drowning, according to US Coast Guard boating incident data. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has several recommendations when it comes to drowning prevention, including: Learn how to swim. Always swim with a buddy. Avoid drinking alcohol before or while swimming. Check…
Read MoreCould Someone with Multiple Sclerosis Be on a Boat Crew?
Could Someone with Multiple Sclerosis Be on a Boat Crew? In June, Oceans of Hope, a 67-foot yacht crewed by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, set out on a voyage around the world, according to Multiple Sclerosis News Today. The crew will have up to 10 international MS patients for each leg of the voyage. Their…
Read MoreCould Inadequate Mooring Cause an Allision?
Could Inadequate Mooring Cause an Allision? According collinsdictionary.com, mooring is the act of “dropping a permanent anchor”, and the Meriam-Webster dictionary defines allision as “the action of dashing against or striking upon.” Unfortunately, if the act of mooring has any connection to an allision, it is because the mooring failed to prevent the allision. Near…
Read MoreCan I Sue a Boat Operator Who Is Facing Criminal Charges?
Can I Sue a Boat Operator Who Is Facing Criminal Charges? In some cases, the operator at fault in a recreational boating accident will have to face criminal charges for his or her actions leading up to the crash. While boaters who break the law should be held accountable for their actions, especially if those…
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