The Danger of Double-Plated Hull Repairs

According to a report recently released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it was most likely the use of double plating during the repair of a fishing vessel’s hull that caused the F/V GRACE MARIE to flood and sink off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, last year. The agency warns against the danger this…

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Reckless Conduct & Aggravated Boating: MA Woman Charged with Felony

Last week a Massachusetts woman was arraigned in Hillsboro Superior Court on charges of felony reckless conduct and aggravated boating while intoxicated. This past summer, it is alleged that Pena was on Long Pond in Pelham, New Hampshire operating a vessel with another passenger when she sped into another boat, that was floating causing three…

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New Ruling Poses Challenges to Mariners Injured on the Job

In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court passed a ruling that will affect the claims of maritime workers in personal injury and wrongful death actions. While the new ruling has created a split in the law as to the type of damages people injured or who died on the water can recover depending whether they…

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Coast Guard Report Details Findings of Concern in M/V Iyanough Crash

Last week, the United States Coast Guard, “USCG”, issued “Findings of Concern” related to the M/V IYANOUGH crash of June 16, 2017.  It took nearly 2 years to complete the USCG work of the M/V IYANOUGH crash that resulted in more than 15 injuries with the investigation closed on May 24, 2019.  The Investigative Report…

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Boating Safety Checklist for New Englanders

New England Coast Guard Releases Boating Safety Checklist for Summer 2019 Latti and Anderson LLP joins the Coast Guard in welcoming the unofficial start to Summer this past weekend. The Memorial Day holiday is a special time of year for the long-suffering New Englanders who have endured cold temperatures, Nor’easters, Snow, Sleet, and just about…

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Free Vessel Stability Workshop for Commercial Fisherman

Free, All- Day Fishing Vessel Stability Workshop January 14, 2019 On January 14, 2019, the Fishing Partnership is having a FREE all-day Vessel Stability workshop for commercial fisherman called “Upright & Watertight.” The workshop “prepares attendees to respond to these situations by incorporating practical information with hands-on training. Attendees will review case studies of actual fishing…

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New England Fishing Boat F/V Mistress Sinks

The New England fishing community faces a tragedy with the start of the New Year with the sinking of the F/V MISTRESS which is based out of Point Judith Rhode Island and its owner is Hope Fisheries, Inc. At approximately 1:30 am on January 1, 2019, the captain of the F/V MISTRESS issued a mayday…

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Five Winter Boating Safety Tips You Need to Know

Winter is finally here, which means the season for water recreation is over. However, die-hard boaters and mariners often stay out on the water all year. This makes it important for these hobbyists to practice cold weather safety measures to ensure that they will make it home safe. Whether you are new to winter boating…

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How Did the United States Coast Guard Rescue 49 People From This Lost Yacht?

The Coast Guard recently discovered a yacht carrying 49 people on Lake Michigan without a properly functioning navigation system. The 56-foot motor boat named Serenity was found by the Coast Guard with the assistance of a passenger who was worried the operator had been driving disoriented in the heavy fog near the Chicago Harbor. This…

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Why Did the United States Coast Guard Terminate This Yacht Voyage?

One of the main reasons that there are various boating accidents during the summer is because one or both of the vessels involved in the accident was unsafe. All recreational boats are required to have updated safety codes on board in order to protect their passengers. Unfortunately, some boating trips are terminated by the United…

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What 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…

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Did 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,…

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Will 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…

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A 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…

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What 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…

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9-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…

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Water-Skier Seriously Injured in New Hampshire Drunk Boating Accident

This past Fourth of July weekend, a 38-year-old water-skier sustained serious leg injuries when he was struck by the propeller of a recreational boat in New Hampshire. He was transported via life flight to Maine Medical Center, though there is no further information on his condition. His cousin was found to be intoxicated and has…

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Paddleboarder Loses a Leg in Fishing Boat Accident

Last year, a 28-year-old on vacation was enjoying the outdoor water activities in Destin, Florida. She had gone scuba diving, wakeboarding and was enjoying paddleboarding at sunset. At that time, a fishing boat traveling at approximately 20 miles per hour ran right over the paddleboarder, ripping through the bones, muscles, tendons, nerves and a key…

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Is South Florida the Deadliest Area in the State for Boaters?

Keys, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties have been found to be the deadliest areas for boaters in Florida. Last year, Florida had 55 boating deaths, five of which occurred in Monroe County and just as many in Broward. While this was a decrease from the 73 deaths that occurred in 2014, the numbers are still…

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Are Recreational Boating Fatalities Decreasing?

The U.S. Coast Guard has some good news for summer boaters. According to the 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics report, the number of boating fatalities nationwide is 626, which is the third-lowest number on record. The report goes on to say the number of injuries caused by recreational boating accident injuries have decreased from 2,678 reported…

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How Did This 3-Year-Old Die in a Boating Accident?

Last month, a 3-year-old boy was on a fishing trip with his family at Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana. He was playing on a cement boat launch that had an extended dock, which is usually pulled in the water. However, the water levels were particularly low, so the boat launch had been stored to the…

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How Did 15 Passengers Get Injured On a North Carolina Boat?

When 159 passengers boarded a party boat in North Carolina, they were expecting a great night. Thirty minutes after the boat departed, however, many were shaken and 15 ended up sustaining injuries when the vessel slammed into a pier. A Coast Guard investigation showed that the steering pump failed, which caused the 120-foot boat to…

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These Boating Tips Could Save a Life

According to a report from the United States Coast Guard, more than 4,000 recreational boating accidents occur every year that kill more than 600 people, which does not include those who disappear. The disappearance of two boys, in particular, brought recent national attention to boating safety from both the public and lawmakers. The US Coast…

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Country Singer Feared Dead Following Boat Accident

As of last week, Craig Strickland, the lead singer of country-rock band Backroad Anthem, was missing following a boating accident on Kaw Lake in Oklahoma. MassLive.com reported that Strickland, 29, and another victim, 22, were duck hunting when their boat capsized during a storm. Officials were able to recover the victim’s body following the incident.…

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Did Alcohol Play a Role in Fatal Texas Boat Accident?

Officials have discovered that alcohol was involved in a deadly Lake Austin boat accident in Texas. KXAN-TV reports that a Texas Parks & Wildlife preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol, including partially consumed liquor bottles, were found aboard the boat following the accident, which took place on October 11. The crash killed two people, including a…

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American Couple Injured in Whale Boat Accident

According to the Chicago Tribune, an Indiana couple was injured when a whale watching boat they were on capsized off the coast of western Canada in October. The newspaper reported that an infectious disease specialist and her husband, the CEO of an investment company, were among the 27 passengers on board the MV Leviathan II…

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Seattle Duck Tour Boat Crashes on Road, Kills Five

Sadly, a duck tour boat swerved into oncoming traffic and struck a charter bus on September 24, killing five people and injuring dozens of others in Seattle. According to the Associated Press, the amphibious vehicle may not have had an axle repair that was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in 2013. The…

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What are Dangers of Boat Propellers?

If you operate a recreational boat or are a passenger, you should be aware that propellers offer great dangers to people who encounter them. We have blogged about many injury accidents involving people being struck by active boat propellers. In fact, earlier this year, a woman’s arm was amputated following a Boston boating accident in…

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Woman Sentenced For Fatal S.C. Boat Accident

According to the Independent Mail, a South Carolina woman was sentenced to one year in jail recently after she was involved in a boat accident last year that killed a 9-year-old and 5-month old. The news source reported that Dawn Thompson, 53, pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to jail,…

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Do Party Boat Accident Victims Have Legal Rights?

Sadly, earlier this month, a party boat accident in North Carolina resulted in injuries to some of the vessel’s 159 passengers. According to PortCityDaily.com, the accident occurred on July 11 in the Wilmington-area when the Royal Winner Princess II was navigating the Intracoastal Waterway, toward Snow’s Cut. The boat reportedly had music blaring and people…

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Five-Year-Old Girl Killed in Texas Boat Accident

Tragically, a 5-year-old girl was killed in a recreational boat accident near Austin, Texas on the Fourth of July, and her family thinks a vessel malfunction may have played a role in her death. According to KXAN-TV, a water ski pole that was pulling tubers aboard a boat on Lake Travis struck the victim in…

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Child Killed, Eight Injured in Maryland Speedboat Accident

Sadly, a young girl was killed and eight people were injured on June 28 in a Maryland speedboat accident. According to WBAL-TV, the accident occurred during the Thunder on the Narrows boat race, off Kent Island. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the incident. A racing association official said that the vessel involved in the…

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Twelve People Injured in a Boat Crash

A group of 11 young people and the boat operator were on the waters of Cheat Lake at around 8:55 pm on Monday, May 25th. They suddenly ran up on an embankment on the eastern shore, but no one knows why the boat crashed. “It was like hitting a brick wall,” said the victims of…

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Why Do Whale Watching Accidents Occur?

Sadly, last Wednesday, eight people were taken to a hospital after waves slammed into the side of a whale watching boat off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts. According to WCVB-TV, the boat encountered a rogue wave and ambulances were waiting for passengers when they returned to shore. There were 112 people aboard the Captain John…

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Cargo Ship Crashes as Master and Pilot Argue

In an unusual incident, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has determined that a disagreement between a master and pilot over speed led to a cargo ship striking a St. Lawrence Seaway lock in 2013. According to Professional Mariner, the dispute aboard the M/V Claude A. Desgagnes resulted in the boat not slowing down…

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Club Promoter Injured in Miami Boating Accident

Club Promoter Injured in Miami Boating Accident Last week, we discussed how recreational boating accidents can occur when we blogged about a capsizing incident that led to the death of a man in Georgia. Remember, boating accidents can occur for a number of reasons including overcrowding and collisions with other vessels, as well as collisions…

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Why Would a Recreational Boat Strike Land?

If you follow trends in recreational boating, recently there have been a number of high profile cases where vessels have struck land or properties. Remember, recreational boats can run aground for a number of reasons, including: Drunk boating Speeding or reckless operation Poor weather Inexperienced operators Defective equipment These are just a few reasons why a…

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Winter Weather Leads to Coast Guard Rescues

As winter weather brutalizes the eastern coast of the United States, you may see an increase in the number of Coast Guard rescues performed. Recently, the Weather Channel reported that hurricane like winds and cold temperatures resulted in the rescue of an Australian family that was stranded at sea after Winter Storm Neptune ripped their…

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Do 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…

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Were 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…

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Is 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…

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Can Life Jackets Save Lives?

Can Life Jackets Save Lives? It seems like a ridiculous question to ask, but according to Laurel Anders, Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, “Almost 80 percent of all boating fatalities happen to boaters not wearing a life jacket.” Why Don’t People Wear Life Jackets? Many people don’t wear life jackets because they…

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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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Tragedy Averted as Three People on Missing Boat Found Next Day

From the Atlantic Seaboard to Southern California, we all love to go out on the water. Too often, though, people are in such a rush to push off from the dock that they fail to consider their own safety needs. Especially when boating at night, every boater needs the proper safety equipment and the proper…

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Can Power Lines Over The Water Be A Safety Hazard?

Can Power Lines Over The Water Be A Safety Hazard? A pair of harbormaster boats were the first to arrive on the scene when a small boat’s mast struck high-tension power lines over the Weweantic River in Massachusetts last month. There were only two people onboard, and both escaped injury. “It’s short of a miracle…

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Fire Disables Tugboat off Rhode Island

Just last week, the 126-foot tugboat Viking was pushing a barge loaded with barrels of gasoline, when an engine fire erupted. The Coast Guard, along with crews from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, responded to distress calls from the disabled tug where it sat helplessly stuck 18 miles east of Rhode Island. The vessel’s onboard fixed…

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Boating Mishaps Harder to Investigate

By Ray Carbone Foster’s Sunday Citizen June 8, 2003 Investigators who probe boating accidents – such as the one that killed John Hartman on Lake Winnipesaukee last summer, for which a Meredith man is now being tried in Belknap Superior Court – face some special challenges. They can include everything from a paucity of physical…

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