Understanding and Preventing Propeller and Other Watercraft Injuries

Boat propellers and watersports accidents frequently cause horrific injuries. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that the propeller on a typical recreational boat can inflict 160 impacts in one second. And in far less than a second, a propeller can travel down the human body from head to toe, chewing up bone and tissue and causing…

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Beware of Illegal Boat Operators This Summer

A boating excursion may be one of the most appealing ways to spend a hot summer day, but the Coast Guard warns passengers to watch out for unlicensed operators. Many boat owners load passengers onto vessels that have not received the necessary safety inspections crewed by staff who have not been trained or tested for…

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Common Causes of Accidents for Maritime Workers

Dangerous accidents are unfortunately all too common for those employed on working vessels such as tugs and tankers. While every case involves unique factors, there are some mistakes that operators make over and over, sometimes with deadly results. Many of the most common causes of accidents for maritime workers can be traced to fatigue and…

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What Are The Maritime Laws Regarding Marijuana Use on Ships

Despite the trend toward legalization of marijuana in the states, the substance remains classified as an illegal drug under U.S. federal law. In fact, federal law places marijuana in the most dangerous drug category along with heroin and LSD. That means that if you’re on a boat in federally patrolled waters, you could be convicted…

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A Note from Latti and Anderson LLP

Latti and Anderson LLP would like to take a moment to wish you and your family health and happiness this holiday season. We continue to work for the maritime community in assisting with injuries or death resulting from negligence and unseaworthiness of vessels.  This year, Latti & Anderson LLP helped a New Bedford scallop fisherman…

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What Lessons Did the 2017 NTSB Maritime Accident Report Teach Us?

Each year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) puts together a report called Safer Seas Digest. This publication is aimed at helping mariners and boat owners prevent future accidents. It details the accident investigations completed that year and the lessons learned from those incidents. Here are some of the lessons we learned from this year’s…

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Has the Sinking of El Faro Changed Maritime Law?

On October 1, 2015, the cargo vessel El Faro disappeared on its way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. According to the Coast Guard, the vessel sailed too close to Hurricane Joaquin and sank, taking the lives of all 33 people on board. Now, Congress is trying to prevent similar tragedies from happening. Will this new…

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What Are the New Inspection Agreements That Vessel Operators Must Now Agree to?

The U.S. Coast Guard has recently issued a letter regarding the new Subchapter M for vessel inspections and new inspection agreements. They clearly state that “on July 20, 2018, vessel owners and operators will be responsible for ensuring that their vessels comply with the provisions of 46 CFR Subchapter M…vessels are required to obtain a…

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Things Passengers Need to Know About Filing Maritime Injury Claims

If you’re injured in a car accident, filing a claim can be simple. However, if you are a passenger injured in an accident at sea, filing maritime injury claims can be complicated. After all, you have to determine a few factors before you can file a claim, including: Was the ship seaworthy? Did the accident…

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What Makes a Vessel Unseaworthy?

A vessel is a broad term that is not limited to a ship or a boat. A vessel can also include production platforms, offshore oil rigs, barges, moored casino boats or even helicopters. Unseaworthiness is any unsafe condition on a vessel that causes injury. Ship owners and operators by law have a duty to ensure…

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Is This Injured Longshoreman Protected By Maritime Law?

A longshoreman was driving a yard mule truck loaded with granite and iron bars at the Sun Terminals shipping container yard when it collided with a golf cart in a four-way intersecting path. The driver of the golf cart died and the longshoreman sustained injuries. It seems the shipping yard does not have signs or…

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Am I Protected Under the Defense Base Act After a Maritime Accident?

When any other worker is injured on land, they typically file for workers’ compensation. When maritime workers are injured in U.S. navigable waters, they are protected under the Jones Act. When a maritime worker is injured on land, they are typically protected under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or Longshore Act for short.…

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What Happens When a Maritime Worker is Injured On Land?

Maritime workers are not just limited to working on vessels at sea. They are also responsible for building, unloading and guiding ships. Types of land-based maritime workers can include: Longshoremen Dock workers Ship builders Harbor workers Stevedores When a maritime worker who doesn’t work on the water sustains an injury, there may be a moment…

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How Did An Appeals Court Expand Admiralty Law?

Do injuries suffered on recreational boats in shallow water fall under admiralty jurisdiction? According to the U.S. Second Court of Appeals, they do, despite a 1972 Supreme Court ruling that narrowed admiralty jurisdiction. High Stakes for Victim of Diving Injury In 2011, a Syracuse, New York man took a summer trip on a boat in…

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Coast Guard: Hazardous Containers Off the San Francisco Coast

Professional Mariner reports that the U.S. Coast Guard is urging mariners to use caution around the San Francisco coast, as recovery teams are searching for missing containers from a cargo ship that may be hazardous. According to the news outlet, the containers were lost from a ship in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, west…

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Woman Falls Overboard Cruise Ship During Dance Party

CNN reported that rescue workers were attempting to find a woman off the coast of Cuba last month who went overboard during a cruise ship dance party. The woman allegedly fell from the deck of the Norwegian Pearl, 22 miles off the coast of Cuba. Officials with the cruise line said in a statement that…

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Do Cruise Ship Assault Victims Have Legal Rights?

As we reported in this August 2014 blog, cruise ship assaults are often perpetuated by employees and/or other passengers aboard vessels. If you are assaulted on a cruise line, you should be aware that you might have specific legal rights. Depending upon where and when the alleged assault took place, you may be able to…

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El Faro Lawsuits Filed: Here’s What You Should Know

In an update to a series of blog posts, it was reported last week that lawsuits were beginning to be filed against the operators of the El Faro vessel that is believed to have sank off the coast of the Bahamas on October 1. According to the Florida Times-Union, a lawsuit has been filed on…

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Longshoreman Files Lawsuit Following Forklift Accident

According to LouisianaRecord.com, a longshoreman has filed a lawsuit following a forklift accident aboard a vessel, which resulted in the loss of his leg. The news source reported that the lawsuit was filed in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court against Volunteer Barge & Transport, Inc. The victim, a New Orleans man, claims that in…

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Can I File a Lawsuit Following a Crabbing Accident?

If your loved one is a commercial angler, fisherman or crabber, and he or she has been injured or killed in a maritime accident, you should know that there are specific laws that may apply to your case. For example, if your loved one is involved in fishing or scalloping and he or she is…

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Can a Longshoreman File an Injury Lawsuit?

According to the Louisiana Record, a longshoreman has filed a lawsuit against two Mississippi businesses alleging that he was injured in an offshore vessel collision. The news outlet reported that the plaintiff filed the lawsuit on June 5 against C-Log Marine LLC and C-Log LLC in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of…

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Is Stress Management Important in the Maritime Industry?

People who work in the maritime industry face challenges that can place high stress levels on them. Whether it is rough seas, little time with family or jobs with heavy physical demands, stress management is becoming more important. With this in mind, recently a column in Professional Mariner by Capt. Kelly Sweeney discussed this issue.…

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May 22 is National Maritime Day

National Maritime Day is May 22, aimed at recognizing the benefits of the maritime industry. The holiday is observed on the same date each year because it is the day that the steamship Savannah set sail from Georgia on the first ever transoceanic voyage under steam power in 1819. The US Congress officially created the…

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Will New Training Regulations Prevent Deaths and Injuries at Sea?

According to Professional Mariner, new regulations require that ships sailing internationally must provide crewmembers with enclosed space drills every two months. The news outlet reported that vessels operating under Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) must now participate in training programs about the dangers of enclosed spaces to prevent injury and death incidents. The International…

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Latti and Anderson Speaking at Education Seminar

The maritime attorneys, Carolyn Latti and David Anderson, of Latti & Anderson, are happy to announce that they will be speaking at the 2015 Education Seminar for the Mariners Club of Massachusetts on Thursday, April 2, 2015. Registration for the seminar will begin at 9 a.m. and attorneys David Anderson and Carolyn Latti are expected…

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Are There Noise Regulations for Ship Machinery?

Are There Noise Regulations for Ship Machinery? Did you know that there are regulations in place to protect mariners from ships making excessive noise? These regulations are designed to save maritime workers from injuries that could occur like hearing loss. Last July, under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), a…

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Can Crabbers Sue Over Maritime Injuries?

Can Crabbers Sue Over Maritime Injuries? Are you a commercial fisherman or crabber? If you are, you should know that there are various laws that protect you in the event of a maritime injury. These laws protect all commercial anglers, regardless of whether they are captains, mates, deck bosses, engineers, cooks or deck hands. Keep…

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What 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!…

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Is 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…

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Does 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…

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Could 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…

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Does My Employer Have to Keep the Shipyard I Work in Safe?

As maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video above, the Longshore Act provides workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers who are not members of a vessel crew, including: Dockworkers Harbor workers Longshoremen Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) came down on a Norfolk, Virginia shipyard, citing multiple safety violations, according to…

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How Can I Get the Help I Need After a Tugboat Accident?

As maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video above, in some cases, following a tugboat or barge accident, workers who were hurt in the incident can get the money they need for hospital bills and living expenses through maintenance and cure, which provides a daily amount of money to cover living costs, including:…

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What Are the Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) Regulations?

The small vessel general permit (sVGP) regulations are rules governed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that are set to go into effect December 19, 2014. According to Professional Mariner, the sVGP will require all commercial vessels less than 79 feet in length to have regularly conducted inspections performed upon them while they…

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How 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…

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Am 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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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…

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Could 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?…

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What 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…

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Maritime 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…

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Mariners Denied Shore Leave When Owners Fail To Pay For Visas

The safe and efficient operation of a boat is greatly enhanced when mariners are given adequate shore leave. These furloughs are also proven to be beneficial to seafarers’ general wellbeing. Many sailors, however, are routinely denied shore leave by their bosses, because they do not have visas. The Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC) requires…

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New Illinois Laws Will Increase Boating Safety

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed three bills this month that should dramatically improve recreational boating safety. Under one bill, anyone born after 1998 will be required to complete a boating safety course before they can operate a boat with a 10 horsepower engine or greater. In a second bill, a person’s boat can be seized…

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Uber Ferry Service Tested in East Boston

Uber, the popular smartphone-based taxi service, tried out a new ferry service in East Boston and the Boston Harbor last month. Going by the name of UberBOAT, the service ran for two weeks in June while the fledgling company measured demand before deciding how many resources to pour into a full time ferry service. The…

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Mariners Must Renew Fire Training

The Coast Guard has decided that mariners need to prove continued proficiency in firefighting abilities. After 2016, maritime officers will be required to update their firefighting course work every five years. Sailors’ fire training is currently mandatory for officers who travel internationally, but they only have to take the full course once. After that, they…

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Another Chemical Spill, This Time Asphalt

Another Chemical Spill, This Time Asphalt Nearly 11,000 gallons of asphalt spilled into the Mystic River, near Everett, MA, earlier this month. The Coast Guard is monitoring the cleanup efforts. Apparently this spill was caused by a hose failure, but luckily there have been no known environmental impacts. The liquid asphalt has solidified around the…

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The Owner Of My Ship Ignores Safety Guidelines. What Can I Do?

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that during a November fishing expedition, a 72-foot trawler and its seven-member crew were 150 miles southeast of Cape Cod, when the engineer noticed loose bolts on the stuffing box housing. The whole unit was moving freely with the propulsion shaft. The owner and port engineer advised the onboard engineer…

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Join Us At The Commercial Marine Expo Today

We are at the Commercial Marine Expo today, and it is amazing! There are so many wonderful people, exhibits and demonstrations going on—if you are in the area, why not come on down to the State Pier in New Bedford? We will be here until 4 p.m., and all day tomorrow! As we mentioned last…

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What Should I Do If My Boat Catches Fire?

During a day trip off Cape Disappointment, a Washington-based wooden crab boat caught fire with the skipper and two deckhands on board. One of the deckhands heard odd sounds coming from the engine room. He remembered that the vessel’s hydraulic system, which had been a problem before, had recently been repaired. Just as he entered…

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Our Lawyers Help Fisherman Secure $925,000 Settlement

In the wake of an incident that left a fisherman with severe injuries, our firm was able to help him recover a $925,000 settlement. Prior to suffering the injuries, the man was working on a boat owned and operated by the Dona Martita Fishing Co. LLC, which is based out of Massachusetts. The incident that…

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