Jones Act
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…
Read MoreDoes Weather Play a Part in Maritime Safety?
A tugboat captain whose barges collided with a cargo freighter in Texas said the larger vessel “increased its speed in foggy conditions,” making it impossible to avoid the crash. There were no injuries in the accident, but authorities thoroughly examined the evidence during a weeklong hearing, since nearly 170,000 gallons of oil spilled into the…
Read MoreTug-Barge Crewman Killed During Conveyor-Belt Maintenance
According to Professional Mariner magazine, a member of an articulated tug-barge (ATB) crew was killed while conducting conveyor-belt maintenance. The accident happened south of Ludington on Lake Michigan as a tugboat was guiding a barge from Muskegon to Charlevoix. The 37-year-old crewman was performing mechanical maintenance on the barge when he became entangled in the…
Read MoreOur Firm Recovers $1.5 Million for Injured Fisherman
Our maritime trial lawyers were able to recover $1.5 million in a settlement for a crewmember injured in a messenger line accident while working on a fishing boat. The crewman had just placed the messenger line over the starboard spreader bar when the accident happened. After the plaintiff put down the line, it went taut,…
Read MoreOur Firm Secures a $775,000 Settlement for Scallop Boat Crewman
After a crewmember was injured on the F/V NASHIRA, a scallop boat, our nationwide maritime trial lawyers were able to secure a $775,000 settlement for him. The crewman was hurt during the evening while working on the deck of the ship. The incident that caused the man’s injuries began with a pile of scallops being…
Read MoreAfter 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…
Read MoreHouston Ship Channel Barge Accident Nearly Ends in Disaster
According to the Houston Chronicle, an accident between a barge and container ship narrowly avoided turning into an environmental disaster. The Houston Business Journal reported that the barge-container ship accident happened on March 14 in the Houston Ship Channel. The crash occurred just north of the Texas City Y, which is the nickname of the…
Read MoreWhat Should I Do If I Was Hurt in a Tanker Accident?
Under maritime laws such as the Jones Act, if you are hurt in a tanker accident due to negligence or unseaworthiness, you are entitled to compensation for lost wages, hospital bills and more. However, proving your employer’s dangerous operations or mistakes led to your injury can often be difficult without the assistance of a qualified…
Read MoreI Lost an Arm in a Fishing Boat Accident. What Do I Do?
At Latti & Anderson LLP, we have seen how the physical pain and mental anguish of losing a limb can affect an amputee for the rest of his or her life. Amputees can sometimes have to relearn basic skills and be hindered in their ability to work or enjoy a lifestyle similar to the one…
Read MoreMaine Barge Accident Leads to Damariscotta River Oil Spill
On February 7, a barge sunk into the Damariscotta River leading to an oil spill, according to WCSH NBC 6 in Portland, Maine. The accident happened near an aquaculture farm in the village of Walpole, Maine around 8 a.m. No one was reported to have been injured in the accident. After the accident, the barge…
Read MoreLack of Health Insurance for Commercial Fisherman Prevents Industry Growth
An article in Alaska Public Media recently discussed the growing issue of the lack of affordable health insurance for commercial fishermen and the impact it has on the industry as a whole. According to the article, a sizeable portion of Alaskan fishermen choose to forgo insurance altogether, since affordable healthcare is not provided for them.…
Read MoreCoast Guard Ends Search for Missing Boston Fisherman
Coast Guard Ends Search for Missing Boston Fisherman The Coast Guard called off their search the day after a fisherman went overboard off a Boston fishing boat, F/V LYDIA MAYA, southeast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts on December 19. The search for the missing fisherman was called off on December 20 after the Coast Guard deployed…
Read MoreMaritime Trial Lawyer: Tug-Barge Breaks Apart in Alaskan Ice
An integrated tug-barge (ITB) fell apart after hitting river ice off the Alaskan Coast this summer. The ITB and its crew was working to remove debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami when the accident occurred on July 24. Two men were on the vessel when it slammed into large pieces of ice, breaking apart most…
Read MoreInvestigation Into 2012 Fatal Engine Room Fire Finds New Safety Rules are Needed
An investigation done by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that an oil spray started the fatal 2012 engine fire that killed a tugboat’s chief engineer. The fire occurred on March 27, 2012 aboard the Patrice McAllister on Lake Ontario. Federal Officials are reviewing the incident to determine if additional safety regulations are…
Read MoreCrews Resume Search for Victim of Ohio River Barge Accident
Search and rescue crews resumed their search on December 11 for a missing worker that was involved in a barge accident on the Ohio River the day before. On December 10 around 4 a.m., the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call that a worker on a barge owned by Hunter Sun and Gravel…
Read MoreCarnival Cruise Ship Worker Killed in Accident at New Orleans Port
Carnival Cruise Ship Worker Killed in Accident at New Orleans Port A Carnival cruise ship worker was killed while working on the outside of the Carnival Conquest in a New Orleans port on October 20. The worker was killed while operating a man lift, a piece of equipment that raises workers up to the exterior…
Read MoreOur Nationwide Maritime Trial Lawyers Help Those Injured in Ferry Accidents
A recent ferry accident in Sydney, Australia injured eight people on October 7, reminding us that ferries have a high potential for collisions when waters are rough. The vessel operating in Sydney hit a support structure at Wharf 5 off the Paramatta River, injuring eight people including two adults and a child that suffered from…
Read MoreDeck Hand Dead After Towboat Sinks in Mississippi River
A 22-year-old deck hand drowned when new towboat Megan McB sank in the Upper Mississippi River after it allegedly lost power and floated over a dam. Two crewmembers escaped from the top level of the boat after it floated over the roller gate of a damn and came to rest on its side. The third…
Read MoreUS Representative’s Husband Suffers Head Injury in Maine Boating Accident
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree’s husband suffered significant brain trauma during a boating accident in Portland Harbor. The couple and four others were riding a water taxi back from a wedding earlier this month when the taxi collided with a powerboat near Fort Gorges. Pingree’s husband was rushed to the Maine Medical Center and two others…
Read MoreUtility Company Sued for Lake of the Ozarks Electrocution Incident
The mother of two St. Louis children that were electrocuted and killed last Fourth of July at Lake of the Ozarks is suing Union Electric Company for wrongful death. The children, an eight-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl, died while swimming at their family’s vacation home after being electrocuted due to a short circuit shock. The…
Read MoreTwo Fisherman Hospitalized Due to Poisonous Gas
Two Maine fishermen were hospitalized after nearly suffocating due to poisonous gas created by rotting fish. One crewmember was undertaking his duties in the hold of the boat when he suddenly was overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas created by the rotting fish. He lost his balance and fell to the bottom of the hold. Another…
Read MoreEight Workers Injured in Boat House Explosion at Navy Base
Eight workers were injured in a boathouse explosion last week at a New Jersey Navy base while performing routine maintenance. One person was hospitalized with serious injuries while the other seven sustained only minor injuries, mostly consistent with smoke inhalation. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is still underway. According to USA Today,…
Read MoreTwo Workers Killed by Toxic Gases on ‘The Love Boat’
Two Turkish workers are dead after being exposed to noxious gases in an engine room on board the famous ship from ABC’s “The Love Boat.” The boat had arrived in Turkey to be disassembled for parts after suffering significant flooding damage during its voyage. Ten workers were sent to the ship’s engine room to siphon…
Read MoreTennessee Fisherman Dead After Boating Accident
Athens fisherman Anthony Szozda is dead after running his boat into a low-hanging power line over the Tennessee River and nearly decapitating himself. Szozda was participating in a bass tournament when the accident occurred. Trinity resident Jonathan Poole was driving a boat close behind the victim when he spotted the power line just above the…
Read MoreNTSB Rules Poor Weather Planning, Mishandling of Life Rafts Cause of Trinity II Deaths
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the Trinity II tragedy in 2011 was caused by inadequate weather preparations and ineffective use of lifesaving equipment. Four people were killed when the 94-foot jack-up lift boat was caught during Hurricane Nate. The crew abandoned the ship during the storm and two life rafts did…
Read MoreOfficer in Charge of Queen of the North Ferry Found Guilty of Criminal Negligence
Former B.C. Ferries office Karl Lilgert has been found guilty of criminal negligence causing death in the 2006 sinking of Queen of the North. The ferry struck an island off the northern coast of British Columbia and sunk, leaving two passengers still missing to this day. The ship struck the island due to a missed…
Read MoreExploding Barges Severely Injure Three, Evacuates Nearby Cruise Ship
Explosions on two Alabama fuel barges caused a huge fire and multiple injuries this April. According to Fox News, the U.S. Coast Guard stated the cause of the fire was most likely a spark that occurred during the barges’ cleaning. The fire began after the explosions on Wednesday night, April 24, and burned until it…
Read MoreOklahoma Ski Boat Driver Turns Self in After Fatal Boating Accident
NewsOK reported that a ski boat driver wanted in connection with a July 4 fatal boating accident turned himself in to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. After the body of Gary McInnich, 55, was recovered from Lake Eufaula, Ryan Shumway, 30, of McAlester, turned himself in at the McIntosh County District Attorney’s office. Around 10:10 p.m.…
Read MoreLiverpool Amphibious Tourist Vehicle Sinks
In June, a Yellow Duckmarine, an amphibious tourist vehicle popular in Liverpool, England, carrying more than 30 passengers sank, according to The Telegraph. The Yellow Duckmarine began to slowly sink after completing its big finish, known as the “splashdown” landing, where the vehicle drives down a ramp into the water. Several agencies rushed to the…
Read MoreOne Dead, One Injured in Tennessee Boating Accident
A man is facing vehicular homicide charges after a deadly boating accident near downtown Clarksville, Tennessee, according to WSMV in Nashville. The man, Doug Jackson, and four other friends were boating when, as a joke, he pushed two of his friends into the water. However, unbeknownst to him, one of his friends, Stephanie Burns, a…
Read MoreBest Man and Bride-To-Be Killed In NY Boat Crash
Best Man and Bride-To-Be Killed In NY Boat Crash The best man and bride-to-be of a wedding party died in a July 26 recreational boating accident on the Hudson River, according to Reuters. Mark Lennon, 30, and Lindsey Stewart, 30, were the only fatalities when a speedboat carrying six members of a wedding party crashed…
Read MoreTuna Capsized Boat, Nearly Drowned Fisherman
Anthony Wichman, 54, of Koloa, Hawaii had his 14-foot boat capsized and was dragged into the Pacific and nearly drowned by an Ahi tuna, according to CNN. Wichman was fishing off the coast of Kauai on the morning of July 19, when he hooked the 230-pound tuna, and after an hour of fighting it,…
Read MoreTugboat Pulled From Bottom Of Mississippi River
On July 10, after a five-day effort, crews were finally able to pull a 47-foot-long tugboat out of the Mississippi River, according to the Times-Picayune. Since the tugboat’s accident and subsequent sinking, that stretch of the Mississippi had been closed, either partially or entirely. “Closing down the river was a big deal,” said Coast Guard…
Read MoreNew Orleans Tugboat Accident Causes Cruise Ship To Alter Its Course
The Carnival Conquest, a 3,000-passenger Carnival Cruise Lines cruise ship, was diverted to Mobile, Alabama last month because of a tugboat accident that prevented it from reaching its intended destination, New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the Cruise Critic, the 48-foot tugboat capsized and sank in the Mississippi River near Venice, Louisiana, forcing the U.S. Coast…
Read MoreCrew Survives After Merchant Vessel Splits In Two Off Mumbai Coast
The Savannah Morning News reported that the Comfort, a Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) container vessel, split in two last month during inclement weather off the coast of Yemen. The incident occurred about 840 miles west of Mumbai, and the Coast Guard reported that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai diverted three nearby ships for…
Read MoreDrunken Boaters Drawing Extra Attention From Massachusetts Harbormasters
Now that summer is in full swing, hitting the water has become an almost weekly regimen for many recreational boaters in Massachusetts and around the country. Unfortunately, as nice as it can be to cool off in the water on a hot summer day, the increased traffic on the water often leads to an increase…
Read MoreFerry Accident Severs Arm of Worker in Ottawa
The Ottawa Citizen in Canada reported that a veteran employee of the Quyon ferry had his right arm severed in a ferry accident on July 11. Four men were working on the company’s new vessel, a 215-ton cable ferry with space for 21 cars, when a cable snapped and severed the arm of 33-year-old Harold…
Read MoreBoating Accidents in Michigan, California and Arizona Call Attention to Safety Concerns
Boating Accidents in Michigan, California and Arizona Call Attention to Safety Concerns As more people take to the water this summer, recreational boating accidents around the county during the weekend of July 13 resulted in numerous serious injuries and a pair of deaths. KVUE-TV reported that two men needed to be transported to the hospital…
Read MoreJones Act Attorneys Represent New Hampshire Fishermen, Maritime Workers
New Hampshire is located in the New England region of the United States. The Granite State is the fifth-smallest state in the country and its 18-mile long shoreline is the smallest of all coastal states. The New Hampshire State Port Authority oversees the Port of New Hampshire in Portsmouth. According to the National Marine Fisheries…
Read MoreUSCG Rescue Crewmember of Tugboat In Waters Off Portsmouth
The Portsmouth Patch reported that the Coast Guard rescued an unidentified male crewmember from the tug NAVIGATOR in the waters off Portsmouth. The rescue happened on Tuesday, July 9 at approximately 6:15 a.m., according to a Coast Guard news release. The crewman had to be medically evacuated from the tugboat, which was near Gunboat Shoals.…
Read MoreWill Bigger Vessels Mean Bigger Problems for Container Ship Workers?
This past January, the Washington Post reported that the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal was officially half-complete, but Reuters reported last month that Chinese company HKND Group won a concession to design, build and manage a $40 billion canal in Nicaragua. Why build a canal only a few hundred miles from one that…
Read MoreOSPREY Case is Reminder That Coast Guard Cannot Come to Every Mariner’s Aid
On June 9, the US Coast Guard medically evacuated a crewman from THE NAVIGATOR tugboat in the vicinity of Gunboat Shoals, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. According to a Coast Guard news release, the unidentified crewmember sustained a fractured leg and was transported to awaiting EMS at Station Portsmouth Harbor before being taken by ambulance to…
Read MoreJones Act Lawyers Help Massachusetts Fishermen, Maritime Workers
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the most populous of the six states that make up the New England region of the United States. The Bay State is known for its lobster, scallops and commercial groundfishing industries. Ports in Massachusetts include the Port of Boston, Port of Fall River, Port of New Bedford, Beverly Harbor, Cape…
Read MoreDramatic USCG Medevac Rescue of Injured Crewmember Near Massachusetts
Cape Cod Today reported on July 1 that the US Coast Guard performed a very difficult medical evacuation of a 50-year-old crewmember from the OCEAN PROWLER fishing vessel after the man was reportedly suffering from chest pains and had been going in and out of consciousness for 15 minutes. The rescue was complicated by heavy…
Read MoreConnecticut Vessel Sinking Results in No Injuries, But One Dies in North Carolina Sinking
Connecticut Vessel Sinking Results in No Injuries, But One Dies in North Carolina Sinking The Hartford Courant reported that a 63-foot boat sank in Long Island Sound off of Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Connecticut, on June 22. Goshen Fire Department Chief Donald Chapman Jr. told the Courant that the vessel struck something the…
Read MoreJones Act Attorneys Review Hurricane Sandy’s Effects on New Jersey Fishermen
New Jersey is the fourth-smallest state in the country by total area, but it has the most inhabitants per square mile of any of the 50 states. It is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, but the state also falls within the vicinity of the major metropolitan areas of New York City and…
Read MoreJones Act Lawyers Look at Maritime Accidents in Maine
Maine is the northernmost and easternmost state in the New England region of the United States. The Atlantic Ocean borders Maine to the east and south, and the Pine Tree State is known for its lobster, clam and groundfishing industries. Maine has 44 ports, including: Port of Eastport, Port of Portland, Port of Searsport, Bangor…
Read More90-Year-Old Maine Lobsterman Ready to Get Back to Work After Jumping Off Sinking Vessel
90-Year-Old Maine Lobsterman Ready to Get Back to Work After Jumping Off Sinking Vessel Lobsterman Philip Tuttle left his wife a note on June 8 that said he was heading out to check a trap and would be right back. When the 90-year-old failed to return in time for dinner, his family knew something was…
Read MoreLongshoreman Killed in Port of Camden Forklift Accident
The Port of Camden is situated on the Delaware River in southern New Jersey with access to the Atlantic Ocean. The Port of Camden consists of the Beckett Street Terminal and the Broadway Terminal. According to the South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC), it receives hundreds of ships moving international and domestic cargo every year, and…
Read MoreHyannis Harbor One of Many Upcoming Dredging Projects
Hyannis Harbor is a small natural harbor in the largest of the seven villages located in the city of Barnstable, Massachusetts. Hyannis is an important link for passenger ferries and cargo to Nantucket Island, and the harbor is a place of refuge for coasting vessels and pleasure crafts. Hyannis is one of the largest recreational…
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