On April 6, the M/V KATHERINE G. capsized as it was preparing to transport a 60-ton construction crane off Liberty Island. According to NY1 News, the crane and two crewmembers fell into the water, while four others scrambled to the top of the overturned vessel. The tugboat was assisting with interior renovations at the Statue of Liberty.

Luckily, the two crewmembers who went overboard were rescued by a New York Waterway ferry. According to CBS New York, Captain Mohamed Gouda lowered a device known as a “Jason’s Cradle” for the victims to climb up. Only minor injuries were reported.

This rescue effort was not Captain Gouda’s first. According to Newsday, he helped rescue 143 people after US Airways Flight 1549 crashed in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009. Shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport, the airplane struck a flock of geese and lost engine power. Captain Gouda used the same cradle procedure in 2009, and all passengers and crewmembers were rescued.

Tug and barge accidents do not always end as well as the M/V KATHERINE G. incident. These accidents often result in serious injuries or even death. Maritime workers who get hurt on the job may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. To ensure you receive the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled, you need a qualified maritime attorney on your side with experience handling claims under the Jones Act, the Longshore Act, and maintenance and cure laws.

Have you been injured in a maritime accident? Contact a Boston maritime attorney today to discuss your case and learn about the remedies available to you under maritime law.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Boston maritime trial lawyers