The captain goes down with the ship. This maritime tradition is as old as the industry itself, but what about its modern application? Does the captain really have to go down with their ship, or does the maxim apply more to a captain’s obligation to do everything possible to rescue others if their vessel is sinking? It seems the latter is true, but there’s a bit more to it. On the evening of ...
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6 Recent Groundings & Why They Happened It's been nearly two years since the historic grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal, which halted commercial traffic for a week. This disrupted billions of dollars of trade and grabbed worldwide attention. The accident would later be blamed on trying to navigate the ship with just two pilots on the bridge and no tow vessels fore or aft of the ...
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Offshore wind is a clean, renewable, and abundant energy resource; countries across the planet are working to harness it. In the United States, President Biden signed an executive order to “reeestablish the Federal Government as a leader in sustainability…” which included a commitment to generate at least 30 gigawatts of power from offshore wind installations by 2030. This is certainly a step in ...
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Working at sea, even when close to shore, can present serious risks. One ever-present hazard is the water itself. If a crewmember falls overboard or a vessel capsizes or sinks, survival will depend on more than one’s ability to swim or tread water. Even an experienced swimmer can quickly lose muscle control in cool water, affecting their ability to stay afloat or pull themselves back on board. ...
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According to Rule 5 of the Amalgamated International & U.S. Inland Navigation Rules , “Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.” Keeping a proper lookout is one of the most basic rules of ...
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Posted By Arnold and Itkin, LLP
When vessels are navigating inland waterways, there’s a set of right-of-way rules that they’re supposed to follow. These rules, commonly known as the Rules of the Road, dictate how vessels should behave when crossing paths. The term “rules of the road” is used because the process is similar to the way that cars behave at unmarked intersections. The Rules of the Road are published by the United ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
The American offshore industry is no stranger to aging vessels. Experts say that vessels are going to start retiring faster than the rate they can be replaced. Because of this, it’s fair to assume that many older vessels will be at sea for longer than they should be. Not only are aging ships an economic setback, but they also pose a risk to maritime workers. Offshore workers who are employed on ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Recently, two incidents involving storms and offshore work have grabbed headlines. The first incident occurred last fall when the Deepwater Asgard was left in the path of a hurricane despite pleas from the crew and warnings from weather experts. The incident was harrowing and resulted in an experience that some of the crew members will forever be traumatized by. The second incident resulted in ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
The maritime industry is filled with words that aren’t used in everyday language. Building upon centuries of tradition, nautical words have been transferred from one generation of workers to the next. This means that everyday words used by offshore workers might not be familiar to many other people—including those who are new to the industry. One word that might not be familiar to non-offshore ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Last Friday, a 41-foot supply boat overturned on the Neches River south of Port Neches. The incident killed one of the three passengers who were on the boat when it capsized. According to reports, the victim and two other workers from Carlsen’s Mooring Service were bringing cleaning supplies to a ship offshore. Carlsen’s Mooring Service is a company that supplies Port Arthur refineries and all ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
One man was killed, and another is missing after a boating accident on Bayou Sorrel in Iberville Parish. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. at Jack Miller’s Landing on Belleview Drive in Plaquemine. Two other men were able to swim to shore after the collision. What Happened During the Bayou Sorrel Boat Accident According to officials, four boaters were traveling down the Intercoastal Canal on ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Two weeks ago, a vessel collision on the Mississippi River claimed the lives of three men. The incident occurred on January 26 in the early hours of the morning and involved two towing vessels, the RC Creppel and the Cooperative Spirit. All victims were from the crew of the Creppel, and the boat sank because of the incident. Arnold & Itkin Is Representing the Families of Two Victims Now, Arnold & ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Three people are missing after two vessels collided Sunday morning on the Mississippi River in Destrehan, Louisiana. The Coast Guard reported that the incident occurred around 5:30 a.m near mile marker 123. While one person was rescued from the water, a search-and-rescue mission is currently underway for the three missing people. Officials have deployed a response boat as well as a helicopter to ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Yesterday afternoon, 600-foot chemical tanker Bow Fortune collided with an 80-foot fishing vessel named Pappy’s Pride offshore from Galveston, Texas. The impact caused the fishing vessel to capsize; two fishermen are still missing, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The collision occurred right at the entrance to the Houston-Galveston Ship Channel, near the long granite jetties. Two response boats ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin is currently representing a man who lives in Alpha, Florida. He sustained injuries while working on a tugboat in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. Our client slipped and fell while on the vessel, causing severe injuries to his knee. The accident occurred because his employer failed to maintain safe working conditions on the boat. Our client’s employers had a responsibility to ensure that ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin recently filed a case on behalf of a man who suffered severe injuries while working on a boat. His injuries were caused by a collision with another vessel on March 8, 2019. Our client, a tankerman and former naval officer, sustained injuries to his head, neck, shoulder and other parts of his body when the collision occurred. Head , neck, and shoulder injuries are frequently ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
At Arnold & Itkin, our offshore injury attorneys highlight the importance of eliminating negligence on the part of employers and ship owners in the maritime industry. Doing this provides a safe environment for the thousands of offshore workers and passengers that utilize seagoing vessels daily. Examining the following maritime accidents reveals the importance of accountability and reveals how ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin LLP filed a new lawsuit today on behalf of an offshore oil rig worker who was struck by a piece of wire rope while working aboard the Noble Clyde Bordeaux. He sustained serious injuries to his face, jaw, and other parts of his body. The young man required emergency surgery to address his injuries, which were caused by the Defendants’ conduct and the unseaworthy condition of the ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Yesterday we published a blog talking about the USS McCain accident of August 2017, which led to the deaths of 10 U.S. sailors off the coast of Singapore. The incident is back in the news as 10 families bring lawsuits against the owners of the Alnic, the merchant tanker that collided with the McCain. Our very own Cory Itkin represents 9 of the 10 families. Today, we round up the most notable ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Any person who has traveled in the open ocean has had the same fear: They're standing on the deck, enjoying a quiet moment at sea... ...When they fall into the icy waters. They scream for someone to help, but no one saw them fall. Within seconds, the boat is out of reach, leaving them behind with no one the wiser. They have 1 minute to regain control of their breathing, 10 minutes to swim to ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin recently filed claims on behalf of three individuals seriously injured on a casino shuttle boat that burst into flames near Port Richey, Florida. Our clients were forced to jump overboard to escape the fire, crawling about 100 yards through frigid waters. For at least two of our clients, these injuries will require long-term care and treatment. The local police stated that the boat ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
50 individuals were traveling on a shuttle boat to a casino boat about a mile off of the coast of Florida when tragedy struck and the boat burst into flames. The fire burned the boat to its shell, leaving nothing but the hull. There is currently an investigation into the cause of the fire, which is thought to be an engine complication; however, no proof has been found as of yet. While travelling, ...
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One fisherman has been killed and two others injured in a boating accident that occurred Friday night on Lake Baree in Louisiana. The Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s report said that six fisherman and their captain were on a charter trip when the 25-foot vessel struck an underwater wellhead around 11 pm. Upon impact, three of the men onboard were ejected from the boat. Two of them have been treated ...
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Just before noon Tuesday morning, the crew of the Alaska Juris were faced with a terrible problem: Their ship was sinking. The 220-foot fishing vessel (specifically a factory trawler, which drags nets in order to catch fish) began taking on water in the late morning, on a day only notable for the heavy fog and low visibility. Otherwise, the weather and winds were calm. The Alaska Juris allegedly ...
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The team at Arnold & Itkin has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a client who was injured in a pier accident. The man suffered serious injuries while standing on a pier that was suddenly hit by a marine vessel. The accident took place in Galena Park, Texas. Our maritime accident attorneys will be seeking to hold the owner and operator of the vessel accountable for the damages and injuries he caused to ...
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