Posts by Latti & Anderson LLP
Updates on M/V IYANOUGH Crash Lawsuit Regarding the Claimants’ Answer to the Petition
In June 2017, a high-speed passenger ferry named the M/V IYANOUGH crashed into a jetty in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Initially, it was reported that fifteen people suffered injuries. The ferry is owned and operated by the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and the Nantucket Steamship Authority. The owner of the ferry filed a lawsuit, to eliminate its…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreWhat Did the Coast Guard Find in Last Year’s Statistics Report for Recreational Boating?
On May 29, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) released a report that highlights statistics on recreational boating injuries and fatalities in 2017. Some of the statistics that were outlined in the report are alarming. What Did the Statistics Show About Boating Injuries and Fatalities? The statistics in the report showed some positive improvements in…
Read MoreHow Should I Prepare for This Year’s Hurricane Season?
Each year, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) reminds the public how to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30 and has its peak between mid-August and late October. You should have a hurricane preparedness plan in place for hurricane season. The USCG recommends…
Read MoreHow to Protect Yourself from Cold-Water Exposure
Recreational water activities are particularly popular during the summer months, including paddle boarding, parasailing, kayaking and waterskiing. Unfortunately, warm weather during the summer doesn’t always mean there will be warm water. Cold-water immersion can be deadly. Are you planning to enjoy recreational water activities this summer? The United States Coast Guard (USCG) recommends taking the…
Read MoreWho Is Liable If I’m Injured on a Cruise Ship?
If you are a passenger on a cruise ship and get injured, there will be a few things you will have to prove in order to determine liability. The number one thing you will have to confirm in court is that the cruise ship operator was negligent in some way. This is the main way…
Read MoreHow Does Maintenance and Cure Relate to My Maritime Injury?
If you are a merchant seaman or commercial fisherman, you may have heard of the phrase maintenance and cure in relation to work injuries. Maintenance and cure are special benefits that injured maritime workers can receive from an employer during their recovery process. Regardless of proving liability for your injuries, you as an injured seaman…
Read MoreWhat is the Zone of Danger Test?
In Sawyer Brothers, Inc. et al v. Island Transporter, et al, , a maritime passenger case, the First Circuit adopted the zone of danger test used by other courts for a negligent infliction of emotion distress claim. In this case, Sawyer Brothers, Inc. hired Island Transporter, LLC to ferry three of its construction vehicles and…
Read MoreHow Do I Get Licensed to Drive a Recreational Boat in Massachusetts?
New Englanders love to rent and buy boats in order to enjoy their weekends or vacations on the freshwater rivers and lakes. As the weather gets warmer, you and your family might be interested in buying a boat to use near the Boston harbors. It’s important to know the process behind buying a boat and…
Read MoreOwners of the M/V IYANOUGH file Petition for Limitation of Liability
Last June, a high-speed passenger ferry crashed into a jetty in Hyannis, Massachusetts that left fifteen people injured. The ferry, named the M/V IYANOUGH and operated by the Wood’s Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, crashed into the jetty a few miles from the dock. Due to heavy winds and rough seas, the evacuation…
Read MoreCoast Guard Aircrew Rescues Four People Off of Martha’s Vineyard
A Coast Guard aircrew rescued a group of four people from a sinking fishing vessel Wednesday night near Martha’s Vineyard. The fishing vessel, named F/V SEA STAR, radioed the Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at 6:20 p.m. that night. They reported that their vessel was sinking and taking on water, and that they were…
Read MoreClient Testimonial – Chris Curtis
Meet Latti & Anderson, LLP client, Chris Curtis. Our maritime injury attorneys represented Chris in a claim for an eye injury. We were able to settle this case for him out of court. In this video, watch Chris discuss his experience working with our law firm and explain why he would recommend us to other…
Read MoreTRAGEDY STRIKES NEW ENGLAND FISHING COMMUNITY
Another tragedy has struck the local New England fishing community with the sinking of the F/V MISTY BLUE which is based in New Bedford but owned and operated by companies from Cape May, New Jersey of Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Inc. and F/V MISTY BLUE LLC. Currently, the USCG, local agencies and good Samaritans are searching…
Read MoreFERRY IYANOUGH CRASHES OFF OF HYANNIS
On Friday night, the MV IYANOUGH, a ferry, crashed into a jetty in the entrance to Hyannis Harbor at 9:30 pm. It is reported that between six to fifteen people were injured. On the MV IYANOUGH were 48 passengers and six crew members as the vessel was going from Nantucket to Hyannis. The MV IYANOUGH was…
Read MoreSafety Tips to Prevent and Fight Fishing Boat Fires
One of the last places you want to be when a fire breaks out is confined to a boat. You could become trapped, have to abandon ship or be the victim of an explosion if the fire reaches your vessel’s fuel supply. Therefore, for anyone who spends much time on the water, whether for business…
Read MoreDid Duck Boat Safety Issues Lead to the Boston Super Tours Shutdown?
The list of duck boat companies in Boston just got a little bit shorter. According to Boston magazine, Boston Super Tours closed its doors for good on October 30th. Boston Super Tours is the company behind Upper Deck Trolley Tours as well as Super Duck Tours, which was a competitor of Boston Duck Tours. However,…
Read MoreWill Refurbishing Dams and Seawalls Help Improve Boating Safety?
In early November, the state of Massachusetts introduced a program that will provide around $10 million in funding to refurbish seawalls and dams to improve boating safety. It is hoped that this funding will address the deterioration of coastal infrastructure that is critical to the safety of the region. Much of the funding, around $7.7…
Read MoreDo Commercial Fishermen Need More Safety Training?
Last week, New Bedford hosted a pair of boating safety training events for commercial fishermen, according to South Coast Today. The training sessions took place at the School for Marine Science and Technology at UMass Dartmouth on November 17 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm and November 18 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The…
Read MoreAre Tugboat Accidents Common?
Tugboats are one of the most important and busiest vessels in the maritime industry. They can be separated into three types, each with their own function: Oceangoing tugs Harbor tugboats River tugboats Most are used to help ships into and out of the water. Additionally, they come to the rescue of ships, the fight fires…
Read MoreShould There Be a Law Requiring Workers to Wear Lifejackets on Commercial Fishing Boats
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) in the UK published separate reports on three commercial fishing accidents. In all cases, not one of the nine victims were wearing a lifejacket when they drowned. Per the report, at least four of these fishermen could have been saved if they had been wearing a lifejacket when they…
Read MoreGreenLight a Vet to Show Support This Veterans Day
You may not know it, but green is the color of hope, well-being and renewal. This Veterans Day, the GreenLight a Vet movement is growing and helping others display their support for the brave men and women who have served this country. It’s easy! Just switch out an outside light with a green bulb, tag…
Read MoreThings 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…
Read MoreAre Burn Injuries Common on Board Vessels?
While ships are surrounded by water at sea, that does not mean they are impervious to fires, nor are maritime workers invulnerable to burns. Just last month, a flash fire occurred in a Virginia shipyard, which sent three workers to the hospital with severe burn injuries. Just a few months prior, a fire broke out…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreNew Bedford Fishing Accident Prompts a Rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard
A fisherman required help from the U.S. Coast Guard when he sustained a severe hand laceration in a New Bedford fishing accident. According to the Coast Guard, the New Bedford-based fishing boat was brought to shore when it became obvious the fisherman required immediate medical attention. Are Hand Injuries Common in Fishing Accidents? Wrist and…
Read MoreAre Tourist Boats Safe?
In 2010, two people drowned when a duck tour boat stalled and a river barged overran it. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the duck boat operator smelled smoke, and shut off the engine. The oncoming barge failed to receive any distress signal and the duck boat’s horn experienced a malfunction. Following the…
Read MoreIs 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…
Read MoreHow Did This Fisherman Sustain Propeller Injuries?
A commercial fisherman was snorkeling and spearfishing earlier this month when a boat when a 32-foot boat struck him, causing serious propeller injuries to his lower body. The fisherman lost part of one leg and suffered severe injuries to the other because of the boating accident. Why Boaters Need to Be Aware of Propeller Accidents…
Read MoreWhat Did We Learn from “Deepwater Horizon?”
“Deepwater Horizon” is a movie that hit the screens last month and is a depiction of the oil rig that exploded, sank and killed 11 workers on April 20, 2010. The tragedy was also regarded as one of the worst environmental disasters to date. On that day, the cement plug in the Macondo well failed…
Read MoreDoes Fatigue Put Maritime Workers at Risk?
Maritime workers are essential to the global economy. More than 90 percent of the world’s trade is shipped by sea or across navigable waters. However, the maritime industry is plagued with falls overboard, groundings caused by navigation errors, collisions, fires, drownings and even amputation injuries. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by fatigued maritime…
Read MoreWhat to Do After Hurricane Matthew
Hurricane Matthew hit the Southeastern part of the United States hard. Residents returning to their homes may be confused on what to do next. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided some tips to help: Listen to your local officials for instructions and updates Check in with your family and friends via text or social…
Read MoreLobsterman was Rescued After Being Impaled
A U.S. Coast Guard received a call around 10:15 a.m. from a crewmember aboard a lobster boat requesting aid. A 41-year-old lobsterman had been impaled with knife around 130 miles east of Cape Cod. The man ended up being rescued by helicopter and taken to the hospital. Common Causes of Lobster Fishing Accidents Lobstermen don’t…
Read MoreDid you know Lindsay Lohan’s Finger Amputation is One of the Top Types of Boating Accident Injuries?
Lindsay Lohan sustained a traumatic injury in a recent boating accident. According to the actress, her finger became caught in a boat’s anchor and she was dragged under the water. Upon freeing herself, the bottom part of her ring finger was ripped off and found inside the vessel. While the media is calling this a…
Read MoreA Marlin’s Major League Baseball Player Killed in a Boating Accident
Last month, a Miami Marlins Major League Baseball pitcher died in a tragic boating accident. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, which discovered the boat the next morning, the 32-foot boat crashed into a pile of rocks that formed a jetty and capsized, killing both the Marlin’s pitcher and two other men on board. Local…
Read MoreWhat is the Leading Cause of Boating Accidents?
Despite common misconceptions, most boating accidents have nothing to do with hazardous sea conditions or bad weather. More often than not, they occur on inland waters during the day when visibility and weather are considered good. The U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,158 boating accidents in 2015. Of those, 626 people died in these accidents and…
Read MoreAre Cruise Ship Workers Protected by Maritime Law?
Last week, we wrote about how a cruise ship employee died during a safety drill on the Harmony of the Seas, which is the world’s largest cruise ship. At the time, the ship was docked in France. Due to the fact the accident took place in another country, some may be confused about what the…
Read MoreWhat is the Leading Cause of Death for Tugboat Workers?
Last year, six towing industry workers died in tugboat accidents, three of which died by falling overboard. While there has been a steady decrease in the number of maritime accidents over the last 20 years, overboard accidents are still the leading cause of maritime industry deaths. Specifically, falling overboard accounts for at least 50 percent…
Read MoreAre Safety Drills Causing Maritime Accidents?
Earlier this month, a seafarer died and four were injured in a maritime accident on the Harmony of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world that just sailed its inaugural voyage this year. Specifically, a lifeboat fell 30 feet from its davit and into the water during a ship safety drill. Of the…
Read MoreAm 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.…
Read MoreWhat is the “Safer Seas Digest” and How Can It Help You Offshore?
Last month, we wrote a blog on the top three lessons the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had learned from its annual report on maritime accidents. The 72-page report looked at 29 major maritime accidents. Since then, the NTSB has released its annual “Safer Seas Digest,” which crewmembers can use in training and safety…
Read MoreIs This Shipping Port Putting Dock Workers at Risk?
A dock worker was seriously injured at Port Elizabeth in New Jersey. The worker’s tractor trailer, which is used to move shipping containers, was lifted six feet off of the dock by a shipping crane. The crane operator lifted the container while the vehicle was still attached and dropped the entire load to the ground.…
Read MoreHow Did This Commercial Fisherman Sustain Burn Injuries at Sea?
A commercial fishing crew accidentally pulled up live, unexploded artillery while clamming, which caused the destruction of 700 cases of chowder and one fishermen to sustain second-degree burns. While the authorities were unable to determine what the ordnance was, the fisherman’s burns were consistent with mustard agent exposure. Mustard gas can cause skin blisters, blindness,…
Read MoreWhat Has the NTSB Learned from This Year’s Maritime Accidents?
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its annual report on maritime accidents from the last year and what has been learned from them. The 72-page report examines 29 major maritime accidents in 2015 with high casualty numbers. It seems the report gleaned three major lessons from last year’s accidents, including: The hazards associated…
Read More9-Year-Old Dies in Tragic Boating Accident
Two boys fell off a rented pontoon boat while at a Maryland resort and both were struck by the boat’s propellers. The 11-year-old boy sustained lacerations, but survived the boating accident. The 9-year-old, however, suffered more serious injuries and went into cardiac arrest before dying. This was the third Maryland boating accident involving rented pontoon…
Read MoreShould I talk to an Insurance Company After a Maritime Accident?
Consider this situation: you’ve just suffered a maritime injury and are trying to recover. You’re in pain, probably shocked, traumatized by your accident and may have family worried about you. On top of all of this, you now have medical bills and possibly lost wages to contend with. However, any injury or death is covered…
Read MoreMaine Lobsterman Dies After Falling Overboard
A Maine lobsterman died this month after falling off a boat near Jonesport. The lobster boat crewmembers contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, but the lobsterman was dead by the time they arrived in spite of CPR attempts. The lobsterman left a wife and a young son behind. Falling Overboard is a Leading Cause of Maritime…
Read MoreWas the Tugboat Accident Near the Tappan Zee Bridge Avoidable?
In previous blogs, we wrote about the tragedy near the Tappan Zee Bridge that claimed the lives of three workers. Three tugboats were pushing a barge across the Hudson River when one of the tugs hit a construction barge and sank with three crewmembers still trapped inside. It took months to recover all three bodies.…
Read MoreWhat If an Employer Refuses to Pay Maintenance and Cure After a Fishing Accident?
A commercial fisherman was tying lines on a boat when he became trapped in marsh wetlands. He struggled and injured his legs and knees while trying to get free. The Captain left him in the wetlands and continued on course, essentially abandoning the fisherman to struggle and exacerbate his injuries. The worst part is the…
Read MoreWhat are the Most Common Types of Injuries to Vessel Cooks and Stewards?
It’s easy to think most maritime accidents only involve commercial fishermen, longshoremen and deckhands. However, vessel cooks and stewards are also susceptible to injuries at sea. Vessel cooks are necessary on smaller vessels, such as tugboats, as well as larger vessels, like yachts or cruise ships. Vessel stewards are also necessary to perform housekeeping duties…
Read MoreWhat Caused This Fatal Barge Accident?
Last month, a 5-year-old boy and his father were on a frogging trip on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway when a towing barge got too close to their boat. The boy and his father jumped overboard to avoid the barge accident. The father resurfaced, but the boy was later found dead underneath the barge. What are…
Read More