Crewmembers Rescued After Tugboat Capsizes

According to Professional Mariner, two men had to be rescued from a capsized tugboat in Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain last December.

The news outlet reported that the U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans identified the 48-foot vessel in distress as the M/V Bella. The operator of the tugboat, K&L Marine Service LLC, told the news outlet that it was likely that the vessel struck a foreign object in the water.

“They really need to sweep the lake’s floor to remove debris from the oil and gas industry and past hurricanes. We were fortunate that no one was hurt,” the owner of the boat told Professional Mariner. According to reports, the captain aboard the vessel became aware that something was wrong with it when it was not moving properly. He later found the lower compartment full of water.

As the captain prepared to get his life jacket, the boat reportedly rolled onto its side and the crew aboard made its way to the exposed side of the vessel. The men were able to wait aboard the side of the vessel while patrol boats responded to a distress call from the vessel. They were then reportedly checked by emergency officials and were deemed uninjured.

Following the incident, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was warned about a potential discharge of diesel due to the incident. The accident remains under investigation.

Working With an Attorney Following a Capsizing Injury Incident

It is great news that nobody was injured in this capsizing incident, although this is not always the case. Many capsizing events result in drowning incidents or injuries as people are trapped. When this occurs, victims and family members should speak to an experienced maritime attorney about pursuing compensation under the Jones Act or other maritime laws.

Our maritime attorneys can help maximize damages you may be entitled to because we have a vast understanding of laws that may apply to your case. In the video above, attorney Carolyn Latti explains whom our firm represents, including seamen, deckhands and crewmembers injured aboard commercial vessels.

Latti & Anderson LLPNationwide Maritime Attorneys

Source: http://www.professionalmariner.com/April-2015/Crewmembers-rescued-after-tugboat-capsizes-on-Lake-Pontchartrain/