General
Wakes Happen: Boat Operators Have a Duty to Be Aware of Circumstances and React Accordingly
With only several weekends left of the summer and recent tragedies on the water, it has called attention to an all-too-common problem that passengers and boat operators need to keep in mind. In a recent incident, an 11-year-old girl was killed after she and eight other people were knocked overboard by the force of a…
Read MoreRecreational Boating Safety Can Prevent Senseless Tragedies
The word “safety” causes many people to roll their eyes, especially when safety is viewed as something that takes the fun out of a recreational activity such as boating. But when lack of safety causes serious accidents such as three different boat crashes in Dennis, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Lake of Ozarks, people need to…
Read MoreUnderstanding 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…
Read MoreBeware 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…
Read MoreBe on Guard Against Sexual Assault as Sea Year Resumes
Last fall’s report from an anonymous cadet at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy once again raised the ugly specter of sexual assault at sea. Her public account of rape during her Sea Year experience prompted others to come forward and share stories of similar attacks. Sexual assault is more common than most industry insiders want…
Read MoreMaritime Workers are Vulnerable to Sexual Assault at Sea
Sexual harassment and assault can be horrific in any circumstances. When a victim is assaulted on a working vessel at sea, however, the nightmare may seem to have no end. These victims of sexual misconduct are isolated from help and can be forced to live and work with their assailant under excruciating circumstances. Maritime workers…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Colder Water Temperatures
As the temperatures in the waters are decreasing with the cold weather arriving, it is important for boaters to prepare appropriately when going out. Even a temperature that doesn’t sound cold can be deadly for boaters who end up in the water. Because water that is 70 degrees or less can cause hypothermia, the U.S.…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreMore than a Job: Work and Community in New Bedford’s Fishing Industry Exhibit
If you have ever wondered what it’s like on a fishing vessel, now is the time to find out and learn about a scallop vessel. The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has an exciting new exhibit that offers a replica of a scallop vessel. At the exhibit, you can stand in the wheelhouse, view all…
Read MoreWe invite you to support New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, Inc.
Latti & Anderson LLP has been a proud sponsor of the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center for many years. Like cultural organizations around the world, the Center was forced to close to the public for nearly four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the support of generous donors, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center…
Read MoreFourth of July Boating Safety Tips
Latti and Anderson LLP expects the Coast Guard to be busy this coming fourth of July based upon Memorial Day numbers. Just in the Mid-Atlantic region of New Jersey to North Carolina, there were 49 search and rescue cases reported in the unofficial summer recreational boating season kickoff. Latti and Anderson LLP, suggests you follow…
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 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 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 MoreIs Indoor Air Pollution Hurting Maritime Workers?
Indoor air pollution may be two to five times (and in some cases as much as 100 times) more dangerous to people than outdoor air pollution, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Unfortunately, according to a recent article in Professional Mariner, maritime workers are the victims of indoor air pollution more often than…
Read MoreCrews Rescued Following Multi-Vessel Dredging Accident
In the middle of any kind of major accident or disaster, the most important thing is to save as many lives and prevent as many injuries as possible. However, in the wake of such an event, the focus often shifts to helping victims put their lives back together, figuring out what caused the incident and…
Read MoreBolivar Peninsula Traffic Halted Following Dredging Accident
Bolivar Peninsula Traffic Halted Following Dredging Accident Just like our highways, even shipping lanes become clogged with traffic from time to time. And similar to our roadways, those traffic jams are often caused by accidents. Recently, a dredging accident off the coast of Galveston, Texas held up traffic in the shipping lanes of the Bolivar…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreWhy Did a Recreational Boat Burst Into Flames?
Some boaters think life jackets are too cumbersome, and only necessary for “other people.” This kind of arrogance is bound to cause problems. Everyone should put on a life jacket before starting their boat’s engine. Just last month, for example, a boat burst into flames when its owner turned the ignition key. Authorities in Oklahoma…
Read MoreAre Groundings of Massive Freighters Inevitable or Avoidable?
Are Groundings of Massive Freighters Inevitable or Avoidable? Many cargo ship accidents are preventable, when ship owners follow proper safety precautions and properly train their crews in safety regulations. Injuries and wrongful deaths are often prevented on vessels with sufficient staffing, proper maintenance and safety training. Earlier this month, the motor vessel American Spirit ran…
Read MoreConnecticut Man Arrested After Drunk Boating Accident
Connecticut Man Arrested After Drunk Boating Accident Here at Latti & Anderson LLP, we have said it before, and we will keep saying it until people start to understand: drinking while boating is stupid and dangerous. Doing so not only puts boaters’ own lives at risk, it risks the lives of anyone else around them.…
Read MoreGirl Dies in Tubing Accident on Long Island Sound
The waterfront in Greenwich CT is always popular with teenagers for boating and water sports during the heat of the summer. Teens are allowed to operate a boat without parental supervision so long as they have a state-issued safe boating certificate. Every now and then, though, something goes catastrophically wrong, reminding all of us of…
Read MoreTragedy 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…
Read MorePassengers Stranded on Riverboat
Boating safety plays a huge role for every craft on the water, no matter how large or small. We must always bear that in mind, even when we board a historic paddleboat for a scenic tour. Things can go wrong, and we need to be prepared for every eventuality. Recently, almost 300 people were stranded…
Read MoreIs Sexual Assault on Cruise Ships a Common Experience?
Cruise lines generally sell promises of safe and happy days on the water, far away from such mundane problems as traffic, yard work or crime. But the cruise industry has been rocked in recent years by a number of incidents of sexual assault. Testifying before Congress, Laurie Dishman revealed that a crew member raped her…
Read MoreTowboat Grounding Result of Mate’s Poor Training
Our oceans are one of the most important resources on Earth, and yet many businesses treat them like a dumping ground, allowing poorly trained crews to make avoidable mistakes. Time and again we hear of chemical leakage, oil spills, sunken ships and other atrocities that wreak havoc on the ecosystem and lead to crewmember injuries.…
Read MoreNew Boating Safety Law Passes in New York
A new state law passed in New York requires boaters to take a safe-boating course. It applies to anyone born after May 1996 — which means that this year, every 18-year-old (or younger) boater must be certified. Violations can result in fines of up to $250. Officials say it is not just the requirement, but…
Read MoreCould Improved Training Help Lower Accident Rates?
Could Improved Training Help Lower Accident Rates? DNV GL, the world’s largest ship and offshore classification society, has declared the dire need for a massive reduction in the number of accidents occurring throughout the shipping industry. Tor Svensen, president of DNV Maritime and Oil & Gas, announced that a trend which had been improving is…
Read MoreJoin 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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