Vessel Owner Disputes Coast Guard’s Description of Tanker Accident

In January, the US Coast Guard reported that it conducted a medevac rescue of two crewmen who sustained injuries on the United Kingdom-flagged tank vessel, ENERGY CONQUEROR. According to the Coast Guard, the crewmen sustained their injuries when a cable split while the vessel was 130 miles southwest of San Diego. A 55-year-old crewman sustained leg injuries, while a 51-year-old crewman suffered severe lacerations, head injuries and possible internal injuries.

However, Professional Mariner reported on May 30 that the operator of the 748-foot crude oil tanker denied that description of the incident. “We can confirm that no lines broke during the operation in question,” Dimitris Vergis, a claims executive for Athens, Greece-based Enterprises Shipping and Trading, told Professional Mariner via e-mail. He refused to divulge further details. Professional Mariner reported  that the conditions of the two workers, both Russian citizens, were not available.

Many tanker accidents result in catastrophic injuries that dramatically alter the lives of victims and their families. These incidents are frequently the result of broken or poorly maintained equipment, crewmember negligence or vessel unseaworthiness. In some cases, seamen may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act. Latti & Anderson LLP has secured several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for injured maritime workers and their families, including a $2.5 million verdict for an oiler who had his leg crushed while working on a tanker to $5.9 million for a bos’n who fell overboard while setting out a gangway. If you or your loved one sustained serious injuries while working on a tanker, contact our firm at (800) 392-6072 to schedule a free consultation or fill out the form on this page to let our Jones Act lawyers review your case.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Jones Act attorneys