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 vessel towing;
• Fatigue caused by long hours, bad weather and inadequate staffing;
• Leaks on deck from engine lubricants or barge cargo causing slippery surfaces;
• Frayed and weak lines that part;
• Collisions with docks, shores or sandbars and other hazards in the water.

As nationwide maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video above, your first priority after a tug or barge accident should be to seek immediate medical attention. Following that, even if you do not feel like you will need to hire an attorney, it is always a good idea to consult with one because of the complexity of maritime law; learning what the laws are and what your rights are following an accident could benefit you.

Hudson River Barge Accident Leaves the Vessel Run Aground Along the Hyde Park Shoreline

A January 31 barge accident left a workboat run aground along the shore of the Hudson River, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal.

The barge was reportedly carrying 6,000 tons of cement at the time it ran aground, which took place around 12:30 a.m. as it was making its way north along the river. After running aground, the barge was freed within 12 hours with the assistance of two 3,900-horsepower tugboats.

“It was not a complicated process,” stated a spokesperson for the Coast Guard. “No equipment needed to be brought in. And since she was not blocking the navigation channel and there was no pollution, there was not an overwhelming sense of urgency.”

An investigation into why the barge ran aground was still ongoing at the time of this report.

For more information about maritime law and barge accidents or to discuss your situation with a qualified attorney, call our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys