The search for a 30 year-old man and a 27 year-old woman who fell overboard off the Carnival Cruise ship ms SPIRIT has been halted. The cruise line did not become aware that the couple was missing until they failed to pick up their luggage at the end of the…
According to a report by the U.S. Coast Guard, recreational boating deaths decreased from 758 in 2011 to 651 in 2012, a decrease of over 14 percent. Injuries from boating accidents also decreased from 3,081 in 2011 to 3,000 in 2012, a decrease of 2.6 percent. The overall fatality rate…
An engine room fire was reported yesterday afternoon aboard the 334-foot fishing vessel ARCTIC STORM off the Washington Coast, about 30 miles west of Gray’s Harbor. The vessel’s crew reported the fire at approximately 3:30 p.m., notifying the Coast Guard that there was an uncontrollable engine room fire. At the…
The Washington State Supreme Court ruled en banc yesterday in Dean v. The Fishing Company of Alaska, Inc., a case involving wrongful termination of a seaman’s right to maintenance and cure. The court ruled that where a seaman’s maintenance and cure have been cut off by the vessel owner, the…
If you work on a tug, you may be entitled to maintenance and cure in the event that you are injured or become ill while at work or if an injury or illness is aggravated during your service of the tug. Maintenance is a per diem living allowance for food…
We posted earlier about the role of Facebook and other social media in maritime personal injury litigation, and are now following up with some dos and don’ts of social media. This list is only a general outline and does not by any means cover all aspects of social media. The…
Fish processors working on fishing vessels in Alaska work long hours under difficult working conditions. Unfortunately, hand and arm injuries are common in the Alaska fishing industry. The hands of fish processors or fishermen can get caught in moving Baader processing equipment, augers, unguarded machinery, bait choppers, conveyor belts, cut…
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 60 passengers became ill during the voyage of the Holland America Line cruise ship ms VEENDAM from April 13 to May 4, 2013. This represented 4.85% of the 1,237 passengers on board the vessel. The predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea. In…
When you book your plans for a cruise on a Holland America Ship, the last thing on your mind is what to do if you are injured on the ship. You’re not thinking about how to pay for your hospital bills or how long it will take to recover from…
Fish processors on factory trawlers work long hours under difficult and often dangerous conditions. Injuries are common and can change your life forever. In the wake of an injury, it is important that a fish processor understand the important differences between the Jones Act and Alaska state workers’ compensations laws. …