Fatal Accidents Call Safety of Duck Boat Tours into Question

After the fatal duck boat accident in Missouri that killed 17 passengers, the importance of safety on these boats has been at the forefront of conversation. The Missouri accident involved bad weather and inaccessible life jackets. Boston duck boat companies claim that they have changed their safety regulations recently, and that drivers are receiving special…

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How 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…

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How Maritime Workers Can Avoid Fatigue

The GCaptain publication makes a very apt observation that shipping culture often equates hard work with fewer hours of sleep. However, studies have shown that who is awake for 17 hours straight can be comparable to a person with a .05 blood alcohol content level. This is especially applicable to fatigued maritime workers. Given all of…

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Shark Attack Blamed on Drunken Charter Instructor

Courthouse News Service reports that a filmmaker who was mauled by a shark has filed a lawsuit in San Diego, accusing a charter boat dive instructor of drawing her into being bait by being intoxicated. The lawsuit was in a federal court in November, accusing a dive instructor, as well as Mako Shark Diving and…

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New York Harbor Crash Remains Controversial

A New York Harbor accident that occurred last year remains controversial, as investigators are not in a complete agreement about what happened. Updating the story we brought you last fall, the U.S. Coast Guard has determined that rough seas resulted in a New York Harbor pilot boat smashing into the side of a ship. Although…

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Coast Guard Alert Compilation Reveals 18 Years of Safety Concerns

Coast Guard Alert Compilation Reveals 18 Years of Safety Concerns Have you ever wondered why the U.S. Coast Guard releases safety alerts? Recently, the Coast Guard compiled a list of all of the alerts it issued between 1996 and 2014, and browsing through the catalog is quite interesting. For example, a safety alert issued in…

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How Do Hand Injuries Affect Seamen?

While most people think of hand injuries as minor issues, for fisherman and seamen, an injury to any of the bones in a hand could have serious consequences, making it impossible for him or her to perform a job in the future. Common hand injuries sustained at sea can include finger amputations, severed tendons, deep lacerations,…

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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…

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Am I at Risk of Inert Gas Suffocation in an Enclosed Space?

Am I at Risk of Inert Gas Suffocation in an Enclosed Space? Inert gases like argon don’t do much, which is why they are so useful in manual labor, like welding, where the work has to be performed in a non-combustible atmosphere to prevent fires or, worse, explosions, but while argon can make the work environment…

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Did a Lack of Employee Training Cause an On-Site Explosion?

Recently, a towing vessel anchored next to two Kirby barges at the Oil Recovery Company Gas Freeing Terminal (ORC), unaware that the barges were being cleared of residual diesel, sparked a fire that spread to the barges and finally resulted in explosions. Three sustained serious burn injuries. How Did This Explosion Happen at an ORC…

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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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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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Tugboat Captain Killed by Falling Crane

Even experienced boat operators can fall victim to tragic accidents. But when those accidents could have been avoided by following safety guidelines, it is even more tragic. If tugboat owners and operators fail to follow adequate safety measures, they are putting their lives, as well as the lives of their crews, at serious risk. A…

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Fatalities and Injuries in Michigan Boating Accident

When we head out on a boat, we must always remember that we share the water with other boaters. Many boaters seem to think that regular rules no longer apply the moment they leave the dock. The regular rules do still apply: be safe, be courteous, be aware. Common sense should never get left on…

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Is 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…

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Lobstermen Rescued After Nine Hours in Raft

Even experienced boaters can have mishaps on the water. All it takes is a dark night, some thick fog and an inconveniently positioned rock or two. Two Maine lobstermen spent one terrifying night adrift in an inflatable life raft after their fishing vessel hit a ledge in thick fog last month and quickly sank. The…

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Experienced Massachusetts Boater Involved in Fatal Accident

Safe boating is nothing to take lightly. Even the most experienced boaters can fall victim to tragic accidents. Last week, we shared the sad story of a Navy veteran who drowned during a weekend fishing trip. That man was an experienced swimmer and obviously knew his way around watercraft. Calm seas, however, can still be…

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Crewmember Falls To Death While Ship Is At Anchor

A crewmember on a 19-ton cargo ship was fatally injured as a result of a fall. The crewman had been working in a steel basket attached, high above the deck, to the on-board electric provision crane. The crewmember was said to be painting at the time of his fall, and the crane was not suitable…

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Connecticut Man Receives Three Years in Fatal Boat Accident

Connecticut Man Receives Three Years in Fatal Boat Accident On March 21, a 43-year-old Connecticut man was sentenced to three years in prison after killing his best friend in a crash while boating under the influence (BUI). The accident occurred in April of 2012 when a group of friends, including the Connecticut man and the…

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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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What Happens if a Drunk Boater Injures Me?

What people do today will eventually show up in their future, and, unfortunately, people do not always think things through. As a result, their tomorrows often hold pain and suffering for them and others. Whether it is something as innocent as an ill-advised spur of the moment purchase or as serious as getting behind the…

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What 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…

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Razorbill Rescued from Oil Spill Caused by Tugboat Accident

According to the New York Daily News, an oil-soaked razorbill was able to be saved after a tugboat accident left an oil spill off the coast of Far Rockaway. The oil-soaked razorbill was found in late January by some park workers near Beach 30th Street. The bird was taken to Volunteers for Wildlife in Locust…

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What Should I Do If I Am in a Boat Accident?

Due to victims having to deal with the combination of injuries, lost wages and medical bills, the aftermath of a boating accident can be a very chaotic time. That is why, as nationwide maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video below, after seeking immediate medical attention, the first thing you should do after…

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I 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…

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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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Mississippi River Closed After New Orleans Barge Accident

A February 22 barge accident involving two tugboats caused an oil spill that forced authorities to close a 65-mile stretch of the Mississippi River. According to KRIS NBC 6 News, as of February 23, the closure had left 26 vessels waiting to pass through the area. “Authorities involved in the cleanup and investigation planned a…

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What if My Loved One Died in an Onshore Maritime Accident?

In the video below, nationwide maritime trial lawyer David Anderson discusses the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, which is a type of workers’ compensation administered by the U.S. government. Under the Longshore Act, onshore workers are provided with benefits, including replacement income and compensation for medical expenses if they are the victim of a…

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Investigation into Florida Barge Accident Still Ongoing

The investigation into a March 20 Fort Walton Beach barge accident is still ongoing, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News. The investigation by the Coast Guard will reportedly be concluded within the next few weeks. As a result of the barge accident, which occurred when a tugboat pushed a barge with a crane on…

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No Structural Harm to I-24 Bridge in Ohio River Barge Wreck

A February 13 tugboat accident caused no structural damage to the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge hit by the barges being pushed by the tug. WSIL ABC 3 reported that the accident happened around midnight when the tugboat pushed at least two barges into a pier attached to the bridge. According to a spokesperson for…

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I Was Hurt in a Barge Accident. What Should I Do?

With proper safety training, staffing, maintenance, tools and equipment, many tug and barge accidents are preventable. When injuries and wrongful deaths occur on tugboats and barges, it is often because the owner or employer failed to prevent or correct unsafe shipboard conditions, such as: Improper procedures for setting out and securing lines of tug, barge and…

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Floating Restaurant Breaks Free and Hits Bridge in Kentucky

According to WCPO 9 in Cincinnati, on February 6, a floating restaurant located on the Ohio River broke free from the shore and hit a bridge. This was not the first time that the Waterfront had broken away and hit the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Back in 2011, it broke loose and crashed into the…

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Maine 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…

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What Should I Do If I Am the Victim of a Drunk Boating Accident?

The dangers of drunk boating cannot be overstated. According to an American Boating Association (ABA) article, a Coast Guard study estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above 10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident as boat operators with zero blood…

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Westhampton Beach Boy Scout Protecting Boaters with Eagle Project

A 14-year-old Boy Scout in Westhampton Beach, New York is working to bring a life jacket loaner station to the Westhampton Beach Village Marina. According to the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch, the life jacket stand is a part of the young man’s quest to earn his Eagle Scout award, which is the highest rank in Boy…

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Woman Facing No Jail Time in New York DWI Boating Accident

On January 8, a 24-year-old Utica College student received no jail time after she pleaded guilty to boating while intoxicated and third-degree assault. According to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, the victims of the First Lake boating accident did not want the student to receive a severe punishment. “The victims of the boat collision were instrumental in…

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Man Killed after Boat Capsizes Off South Carolina Coast

A January 25 boating accident left one person dead, according to WMBF News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The accident happened at about 5 p.m. near the jetties in Murrells Inlet when a vessel capsized and left two boaters in need of assistance. “The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Beach Patrol and Deputies, Garden City/Murrells Inlet Fire…

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New Jersey Barge Worker Injured When Struck by Boom

A boom crane struck a New Jersey barge worker on January 21 on the Passaic River, causing serious injuries that required emergency rescue teams. According to the Lyndhurst Fire Department, when the worker’s injury was originally called in, it was described as just a “nosebleed.” However, when emergency crews arrived, they found the barge worker…

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Do I Need A Lawyer After a Maritime Accident?

After a maritime accident, victims are often told by vessel owners that they will “take care of them,” in order to prevent getting an attorney involved. However, it is important that you contact an attorney immediately after your maritime accident to ensure that you will get the compensation you deserve. Oftentimes, if someone is injured…

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Massachusetts Man Charged in Boating Accident That Killed 10-Year-Old

A Massachusetts man was convicted on January 20 for the death of a 10-year-old boy in a boating accident that occurred in August 2010. According to prosecutors in the case, Steven Morse was intoxicated when he was operating a powerboat on Norwich Lake at the time of the accident. Morse drove his powerboat into a…

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Lack 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.…

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Our Maritime Attorneys Represent Injured Victims Nationwide

The maritime attorneys at Latti & Anderson LLP represent injured clients throughout the country for injuries sustained all over the world. When you are injured in a maritime accident, you do not have to seek help from an attorney in your home state, or from the state you are injured in. Maritime law is federal…

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Our Female Maritime Attorney Carolyn Latti Represents Those Injured at Sea

Attorney and firm partner Carolyn Latti is one of the few female maritime attorneys on the East Coast and specializes in representing fishermen, lobstermen, merchant seamen, longshore and harbor workers. Carolyn also provides representation for those injured in cruise ship accidents, ferry accidents and recreational boating collisions. She focuses on admiralty law and has twice…

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New Jersey Snow Storm Sets Hudson River Barges Adrift

Two large construction barges were set loose from the Tappan Zee Bridge on January 3 during a recent snowstorm, causing more scrutiny over the area that has been criticized for safety concerns since a fatal accident last summer. One of the barges made it 15 miles before officials recovered it; the other traveled a shorter…

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Worker Injured in Dredging Accident at Washington State Port

A man was injured while working on a barge at the Port of Olympia in Washington State on January 8. According to the Olympia Fire Department, the man was injured when a “bucket used in the dredging process shifted and/or impacted the worker.” The man was working for Orion Marine Contractors of Tacoma on the…

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Coast 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…

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Containership Pilot Loses License After Striking Philadelphia Pier

Containership Pilot Loses License After Striking Philadelphia Pier A containership pilot has lost his license after investigators say he caused a collision into an abandoned pier by downtown Philadelphia in December 2011. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot became disoriented on the Delaware River and missed a turn, causing the collision.…

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Investigation 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…

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Virginia Captain Loses Job After Ferry Accident

The captain of a Jamestown ferry lost his job after an August accident that occurred when he departed from the dock while cars were still loading onto the boat, sending a woman in her Toyota into the James River. The accident occurred on August 7 when the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (JSF) left the berth while vehicles…

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