How 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…

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Maine 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…

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How Did This Tugboat Crewmember Lose His Life?

Last month, the friends and loved ones of a 33-year-old tugboat deckhand mourned for his passing after a tragic tugboat accident. They smiled sadly and spoke of how he could light up the room, but they all still wanted answers as to the circumstances of his death. On April 19th, a tugboat on the San…

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Worker Loses His Life in New Jersey Tugboat Accident

Last week, an 84-foot-long tugboat crashed into a construction barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. The 13 crewmembers of the construction barge were not injured, but unfortunately, three of the crewmembers did not survive the tugboat accident. Three tugboats were pushing a separate barge across the Hudson River from Albany to New…

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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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Can 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,…

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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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How 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…

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Could a Maintenance Diver Drown in a Retention Pond?

Could a Maintenance Diver Drown in a Retention Pond? There are few more horrific ways to lose a family member than in a drowning accident. This is especially true if your loved one worked on the water for a living and his or her death was caused by someone else’s negligence. In cases such as…

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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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Man Falls from Sailboat and Drowns in Lake Ontario

Time and time again, we hear reports of experienced boaters succumbing to drowning accidents. Accidents can happen to anyone at any time, and we must do our best to follow safety guidelines and train properly for any given boating situation. No one is immune to the power of the water. Last month, a 49-year-old Erie…

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Will My Kids Be Safe During a Boating Party?

Alcohol usage is the leading factor in U.S. recreational boating deaths, accounting for 17 percent in 2012. This means that alcohol abuse on the water is responsible for almost one in five American boating deaths. Unfortunately, many people do not seem to be learning from these sobering figures, and another case of drunk boating has…

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Long Island Man Charged After Deadly Boating Accident

Boating while drinking is never a smart idea and can lead to tragic consequences. Even when a boat’s captain refrains from having a drink, a boat trip full of drunk passengers can end in tragedy just as easily—the better move is not to have alcohol onboard at all. In a horrific boating accident earlier this…

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Tougher Penalties for Leaving Scene of Boat Accidents

In New Jersey, state law demands that boat operators involved in an accident stop and help any injured persons, assuming they can do so without risking harm to themselves. A new law just signed into existence raises the stakes for leaving the scene of an accident. If the accident results in a death, fleeing the…

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Deaths and Injuries After Three-Boat Collision in Miami

A Fourth of July celebration ended tragically when three boats collided near a marina in Miami, killing four people and injuring as many as 12 others. Following a fireworks display, a crowd of boats was making its way back to shore, when one boat apparently crashed into another, then that second boat struck a third.…

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New York Boating Accident Claims Life of Navy Veteran

Police say two men were fishing in an anchored boat near the Stepping Stone Lighthouse off the Bronx shoreline, when they realized that a speeding powerboat was about to crash into them. Both men leapt into the Long Island sound to avoid being crushed. When the larger vessel passed without hitting them, one man climbed…

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Deck Hand Dies After Fall from Ohio River Ferry

A fall overboard claimed the life of an 81-year-old deck hand, who died after falling off the ferry he was working on, according to Professional Mariner. The accident happened on the Ohio River in between Constance, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. The 81 year old was a former ferry captain. He had to retire due to…

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After Falling From Skiff, Tugboat Crewman Goes Missing

After Falling From Skiff, Tugboat Crewman Goes Missing While being carried to his tugboat on a skiff, a crewmember fell overboard and went missing, according to Professional Mariner. The 28-year-old crewman fell shortly before midnight on October 6 as a skiff was taking him to a small boat launch near Anchorage, Alaska, where his tugboat…

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What Should I Do If My Son Fell From a Tugboat and Drowned?

Losing someone you love so suddenly, as is the case with drowning, is a shock. It takes a while to know what to do or how to cope. Unfortunately, sometimes employers and their insurance companies will use your vulnerability to their advantage, building a case against your loved one and figuring out a way to…

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TSAC Releases Over 100 Tips for Preventing Falls Overboard

Recently, the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) released a list of over 100 tips for preventing falls overboard from vessels. The list was compiled after the TSAC reviewed US Coast Guard incident reports of 55 fall-overboard fatalities between 2000 and 2010. Through reviewing the reports, the TSAC was able to identify 29 conditions that could…

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New Immersion Suit Protects Shipwreck Victims for 24 Hours

According to Professional Mariner, a newly-designed immersion suit has been shown in tests to be able to protect wearers for over 24 hours. Testing of the Stearns 1950 Thermashield 24+ Immersion Suit was conducted in September 2013 at Simon Fraser University near Vancouver, British Columbia. The US Coast Guard requires that an immersion suit protect…

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Who Do I Call If I Was the Victim of a Boating Accident?

If you or a family member have been the victim of a boating accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. After that, your next step should be to talk to a maritime attorney. While you may ultimately choose not to hire a lawyer, speaking with one after an accident should be…

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Family of Worker Killed in Barge Accident Files Lawsuit

Last month, we told you about a barge accident that claimed the life of a construction worker while he was working on Baylor University’s new football stadium. Now, the family of the construction worker has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baylor as well as the construction and equipment companies involved. The January 28 accident…

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Body of Missing Boater Found After Florida Boating Accident

Body of Missing Boater Found After Florida Boating Accident The body of a boater who went missing after a February 20 boating accident was recovered later that same day by local authorities, according to WESH NBC 2. The accident happened around 11 a.m. on Lake Jesup. The two men involved in the wreck were brothers.…

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