Archive for January 2015
Can a Company Be Sued for Building an Unseaworthy Vessel?
Can a Company Be Sued for Building an Unseaworthy Vessel? A False Claims Act case has been revived against Bollinger Shipyards Inc. Bollinger had made eight defective hulls for U.S. Coast Guard ships, which cost $78 million in modifications. The ships were considered unseaworthy, but a Louisiana federal judge had ended the lawsuit in 2013,…
Read MoreDo Hit and Run Boating Accidents Happen?
A little girl was injured in a boating accident when the boat that she was on was crashed into by another vessel, which then promptly fled the area. She was the only injury among seven passengers, three of which were children. The owner of the boat alleges that the other boat was speeding towards them…
Read MoreCan Asbestos Cause Maritime Deaths?
Can Asbestos Cause Maritime Deaths? A fatal occupational disease has led to a $3.6 million lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Line. An employee for the cruise ship died because of prolonged exposure to asbestos throughout his 15-year employment history with the company. He was eventually diagnosed with lung cancer caused by asbestos. This lawsuit is the…
Read MoreWere There Any Maritime Deaths in the Recent Hawaii Storm?
Recently, a 74-foot sailing vessel named Hawai’i Aloha capsized and grounded near Kaupulehu. The entire crew had to abandon ship, using life rafts to escape, but one crewmember is still missing after several days. The Hawai’i Aloha’s grounding is just one of similar ship groundings that happened on the same weekend in Hawaii because of…
Read MoreCan the Most Common Shipyard Injury Be Reduced?
Can the Most Common Shipyard Injury Be Reduced? The Naval Sea System Command statistics show that overexertion, repetitive motion and other ergonomic injuries are the most common shipyard accidents. As this is the case, the U.S. Navy is looking into technology that could reduce these common injuries. The solution might be on-the-job exoskeletons. Currently, Special…
Read MoreCan Sandblasting Lead to Health and Safety Violations at a Shipyard?
Can Sandblasting Lead to Health and Safety Violations at a Shipyard? The shipbuilding company VT Halter Marine’s in Pascagoula, Mississippi is set to pay a civil fine of $144,545 to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for several violations, including allowing sandblasting particles and paint to become airborne. Complaints had been launched against the owner…
Read MoreWhat is Happening with the Kentucky Ferry Bridge Accident?
January 12 has been set as the date to try to settle the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge lawsuit. Three groups are involved in this lawsuit, including BellSouth Telecommunications, Foss Maritime Company and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The lawsuit originated in January 2012 when the ship Delta Mariner crashed into the ferry bridge in Aurora, Kentucky, causing…
Read MoreAre Cruise Ships with Insufficient Regulations Above the Law?
Are Cruise Ships with Insufficient Regulations Above the Law? A recent New York Times opinion columnist has written an article about cruise ships and their insufficient regulation. According to the columnist, cruise ships cut corners in the area of safety to lower ticket costs so that they can raise profits, which can increase the safety…
Read MoreCan Moored Boats Injure People If They Break Free?
Can Moored Boats Injure People If They Break Free? Two people have been killed at Avalon Harbor in Los Angeles County, California. A late night storm caused boats to break free from their moorings. The two fatalities included a harbor patrol officer who was killed when he was pinned between a boat and a rock,…
Read MoreWill Congress Support the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is looking at another lease on life as the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate announce their support for the Jones Act by approving legislation that makes the act a part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Supporters state that domestic maritime industries are crucial to both national defense and our…
Read MoreDo Manholes Pose a Danger to Shipyard Workers?
Colonna’s Shipyard, a ship repair facility, is facing $101,000 in possible fines for negligence. More specifically, the company is accused of violating 12 safety and health regulations, including four repeat offenses. For instance, a worker in the Norfolk, Virginia facility was welding a part of a U.S. Navy vessel in an area that happened to…
Read MoreIs It Dangerous to Sail a Skiff Off the Coast of Alaska?
A couple of boaters fell overboard into the chilly Alaskan water when their 17-foot skiff hit ground at Kanga Bay near Sitka. This bay, which is in Southeast Alaska, is off an island that is only accessible by boat, plane or helicopter. Fortunately, a 9-11 call was made around 10 p.m. before the situation could…
Read MoreHow Was a Barge Worker Pinned Under a Crane?
Some of the largest cranes in the world can weigh as much as 78 space shuttles and stand four times as tall as the Statue of Liberty, according to Engineering News-Record. While the crane involved in a recent accident is not nearly as large as the ones described above, it still managed to do quite…
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