Posts by Latti Associates LLC
Is the Jones Act in Danger?
United States Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is proposing an amendment that could repeal the Jones Act, which has been a part of maritime law since 1920. Part of the Jones Act requires that ships that work in the U.S. and in our ports, be completely American made. Because of this, the national maritime community, including…
Read MoreLongshore Union Leaders Meet Employers for Contract Talks
Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), along with their families, friends and other supporters are planning to march in downtown Tacoma, Washington and in San Pedro, California while contract talks between the leaders of the worker-friendly ILWU and the employer-friendly Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) meet in Tacoma. These important contract talks could…
Read MoreCan a Company Be Sued for Building an Unseaworthy Vessel?
Can a Company Be Sued for Building an Unseaworthy Vessel? A False Claims Act case has been revived against Bollinger Shipyards Inc. Bollinger had made eight defective hulls for U.S. Coast Guard ships, which cost $78 million in modifications. The ships were considered unseaworthy, but a Louisiana federal judge had ended the lawsuit in 2013,…
Read MoreDo Hit and Run Boating Accidents Happen?
A little girl was injured in a boating accident when the boat that she was on was crashed into by another vessel, which then promptly fled the area. She was the only injury among seven passengers, three of which were children. The owner of the boat alleges that the other boat was speeding towards them…
Read MoreCan Asbestos Cause Maritime Deaths?
Can Asbestos Cause Maritime Deaths? A fatal occupational disease has led to a $3.6 million lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Line. An employee for the cruise ship died because of prolonged exposure to asbestos throughout his 15-year employment history with the company. He was eventually diagnosed with lung cancer caused by asbestos. This lawsuit is the…
Read MoreWere There Any Maritime Deaths in the Recent Hawaii Storm?
Recently, a 74-foot sailing vessel named Hawai’i Aloha capsized and grounded near Kaupulehu. The entire crew had to abandon ship, using life rafts to escape, but one crewmember is still missing after several days. The Hawai’i Aloha’s grounding is just one of similar ship groundings that happened on the same weekend in Hawaii because of…
Read MoreCan the Most Common Shipyard Injury Be Reduced?
Can the Most Common Shipyard Injury Be Reduced? The Naval Sea System Command statistics show that overexertion, repetitive motion and other ergonomic injuries are the most common shipyard accidents. As this is the case, the U.S. Navy is looking into technology that could reduce these common injuries. The solution might be on-the-job exoskeletons. Currently, Special…
Read MoreCan Sandblasting Lead to Health and Safety Violations at a Shipyard?
Can Sandblasting Lead to Health and Safety Violations at a Shipyard? The shipbuilding company VT Halter Marine’s in Pascagoula, Mississippi is set to pay a civil fine of $144,545 to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for several violations, including allowing sandblasting particles and paint to become airborne. Complaints had been launched against the owner…
Read MoreWhat is Happening with the Kentucky Ferry Bridge Accident?
January 12 has been set as the date to try to settle the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge lawsuit. Three groups are involved in this lawsuit, including BellSouth Telecommunications, Foss Maritime Company and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The lawsuit originated in January 2012 when the ship Delta Mariner crashed into the ferry bridge in Aurora, Kentucky, causing…
Read MoreAre Cruise Ships with Insufficient Regulations Above the Law?
Are Cruise Ships with Insufficient Regulations Above the Law? A recent New York Times opinion columnist has written an article about cruise ships and their insufficient regulation. According to the columnist, cruise ships cut corners in the area of safety to lower ticket costs so that they can raise profits, which can increase the safety…
Read MoreCan Moored Boats Injure People If They Break Free?
Can Moored Boats Injure People If They Break Free? Two people have been killed at Avalon Harbor in Los Angeles County, California. A late night storm caused boats to break free from their moorings. The two fatalities included a harbor patrol officer who was killed when he was pinned between a boat and a rock,…
Read MoreWill Congress Support the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is looking at another lease on life as the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate announce their support for the Jones Act by approving legislation that makes the act a part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Supporters state that domestic maritime industries are crucial to both national defense and our…
Read MoreDo Manholes Pose a Danger to Shipyard Workers?
Colonna’s Shipyard, a ship repair facility, is facing $101,000 in possible fines for negligence. More specifically, the company is accused of violating 12 safety and health regulations, including four repeat offenses. For instance, a worker in the Norfolk, Virginia facility was welding a part of a U.S. Navy vessel in an area that happened to…
Read MoreIs It Dangerous to Sail a Skiff Off the Coast of Alaska?
A couple of boaters fell overboard into the chilly Alaskan water when their 17-foot skiff hit ground at Kanga Bay near Sitka. This bay, which is in Southeast Alaska, is off an island that is only accessible by boat, plane or helicopter. Fortunately, a 9-11 call was made around 10 p.m. before the situation could…
Read MoreHow Was a Barge Worker Pinned Under a Crane?
Some of the largest cranes in the world can weigh as much as 78 space shuttles and stand four times as tall as the Statue of Liberty, according to Engineering News-Record. While the crane involved in a recent accident is not nearly as large as the ones described above, it still managed to do quite…
Read MoreIs It Safe to Mass Produce Concrete on a Barge?
The Tappan Zee Bridge was built to provide a way for vehicles to travel across the Hudson River between Rockland and Westchester, New York. On average, about 138,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge, according to lohud.com. Due to the fact that the current Tappan Zee Bridge was not designed to handle the amount of…
Read MoreCould a Chain Hoist Cause a Barge Accident?
Could a Chain Hoist Cause a Barge Accident? Chain hoists, which consist of a pulley held together by a closed chain, are used to make lifting heavy objects and equipment easier. Unfortunately, a chain hoist is alleged to have played a role in the death of man while he was working on a barge, according…
Read MoreDo Cruise Ship Crews Know What to Do in Case of a Fire?
The last thing cruise ship passengers are often thinking about while onboard the vessel is that it’s going to catch on fire. However, it can happen, and when it does, passengers should be able to count on the crew to know what to do to keep them safe. Earlier this month, when a fire broke…
Read MoreIs It Safe to Use a Forklift While Working in a Cargo Hold?
The process of loading and unloading ships is known as stevedoring, and those who load and unload ships are known as stevedores, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Recently, a stevedore was injured in a forklift accident at the Alabama State Docks while in the cargo hold of a vessel. According to WFNA-TV, the incident happened…
Read MoreCould a Buoy Fall on Me While I’m Working on a Barge?
Could a Buoy Fall on Me While I’m Working on a Barge? Buoys are markers used to aid in maritime navigation, according to the United States Coast Guard. A 13th century manuscript, La Compasso de Navigare, contains the earliest recorded mention of a buoy, describing those used to help seamen as they arrived in Seville,…
Read MoreWhat Is Being Done to Prevent Man-Overboard Accidents?
From 2000 to 2009, 60 maritime workers died in man-overboard accidents while working on the waterways of the United States. In an effort to prevent man-overboard fatalities, the American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (also known as The American Club) implemented a loss prevention program called Man Overboard! in November. Man Overboard!…
Read MoreCould Our Barge Capsize While We’re Dredging?
Could Our Barge Capsize While We’re Dredging? Earlier this month, a dredging accident claimed the life of a barge crewmember in Wilmington, Delaware, according to WPVI-TV. The incident took place on a Tuesday around 7 p.m. on the Christina River near the Port of Wilmington. Three crewmembers, who all worked for the Norfolk Dredging Company,…
Read MoreIs the Boat That My Employer Has Me Using Safe?
Boats with tunnel hulls are built to capture a pocket of air under the hull, which helps reduce drag on the outside of the hull, allowing the vessel to handle better at higher speeds. Unfortunately, instead of handling better, a 17-foot tunnel hull boat reportedly handled worse, because it was allegedly used in the wrong…
Read MoreCould I Be Hurt in a Tugboat Accident Because of a Mate’s Mistake?
Could I Be Hurt in a Tugboat Accident Because of a Mate’s Mistake? In parts of the sea that have been explored and mapped extensively, known hazards are often charted to prevent vessels from colliding with them. Unfortunately, despite the fact that a pier that sunk in the late 1990s was a “known and charted…
Read MoreDoes Maritime Law Apply If I’m Hurt on Land Near the Water?
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act is a form of workers’ comp that provides those who are not members of a vessel crew with compensation if they are injured while working on or near the water, including: Damages for lost body parts Death benefits for surviving dependents Two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage…
Read MoreHow Can I Avoid Drowning?
In 2010, 72 percent of boating deaths were the result of drowning, according to US Coast Guard boating incident data. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has several recommendations when it comes to drowning prevention, including: Learn how to swim. Always swim with a buddy. Avoid drinking alcohol before or while swimming. Check…
Read MoreCould Someone with Multiple Sclerosis Be on a Boat Crew?
Could Someone with Multiple Sclerosis Be on a Boat Crew? In June, Oceans of Hope, a 67-foot yacht crewed by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, set out on a voyage around the world, according to Multiple Sclerosis News Today. The crew will have up to 10 international MS patients for each leg of the voyage. Their…
Read MoreCould Inadequate Mooring Cause an Allision?
Could Inadequate Mooring Cause an Allision? According collinsdictionary.com, mooring is the act of “dropping a permanent anchor”, and the Meriam-Webster dictionary defines allision as “the action of dashing against or striking upon.” Unfortunately, if the act of mooring has any connection to an allision, it is because the mooring failed to prevent the allision. Near…
Read MoreCan I Sue a Boat Operator Who Is Facing Criminal Charges?
Can I Sue a Boat Operator Who Is Facing Criminal Charges? In some cases, the operator at fault in a recreational boating accident will have to face criminal charges for his or her actions leading up to the crash. While boaters who break the law should be held accountable for their actions, especially if those…
Read MoreWho Can I Call If I Was Hurt While Working on a Cruise Ship?
In late October, two cruise ship employees were involved in an on-the-job accident, which resulted in one being seriously injured and the other losing his life. According to Cruise Critic, the incident took place on Princess Cruises Coral Princess while the vessel was docked in Colon, Panama. Both the workers were in a lifeboat at…
Read MoreDoes My Employer Have to Keep the Shipyard I Work in Safe?
As maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video above, the Longshore Act provides workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers who are not members of a vessel crew, including: Dockworkers Harbor workers Longshoremen Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) came down on a Norfolk, Virginia shipyard, citing multiple safety violations, according to…
Read MoreHow Can I Get the Help I Need After a Tugboat Accident?
As maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video above, in some cases, following a tugboat or barge accident, workers who were hurt in the incident can get the money they need for hospital bills and living expenses through maintenance and cure, which provides a daily amount of money to cover living costs, including:…
Read MoreCould a Maintenance Diver Drown in a Retention Pond?
Could a Maintenance Diver Drown in a Retention Pond? There are few more horrific ways to lose a family member than in a drowning accident. This is especially true if your loved one worked on the water for a living and his or her death was caused by someone else’s negligence. In cases such as…
Read MoreWhy Did the Coast Guard Stop a Google Barge Project?
According to centralmaine.com, after the Coast Guard repeatedly cited the project for fire-safety concerns, Google has ended its plan to build high-tech Google Barges in Portland and San Francisco. Google had already stopped working on the San Francisco barge in September of last year after the Coast Guard inspected the ship and cited it for…
Read MoreCould a Tugboat Severely Damage an Aircraft Carrier?
Could a Tugboat Severely Damage an Aircraft Carrier? The Pennsylvania Record reported earlier this month about a tugboat accident that involved an aircraft carrier. The incident took place in November of 2012 and caused damage to a decommissioned aircraft carrier, the USS John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The story is back in the news now because a…
Read MoreIs Indoor Air Pollution Hurting Maritime Workers?
Indoor air pollution may be two to five times (and in some cases as much as 100 times) more dangerous to people than outdoor air pollution, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Unfortunately, according to a recent article in Professional Mariner, maritime workers are the victims of indoor air pollution more often than…
Read MoreGroom Paralyzed in Boating Accident Walks Down the Aisle
A man who was left paralyzed following a 2011 recreational boating accident was able to walk down the aisle at his wedding last month thanks to rehabilitation and a mechanical exoskeleton. The man was paralyzed from the chest down during a trip in July of 2011 when he slipped while attempting to jump off a…
Read MoreIs It Safe for Barges to Carry Drill Rigs?
A drilling rig, also known as a drill rig, is a piece of equipment used for oil and gas well drilling and service, according to the United States Department of Labor. Drill rigs tend to be massive in size, with the Department of Labor’s website listing over 60 that are contained within the devices. Transporting…
Read MoreWhat Are the Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) Regulations?
The small vessel general permit (sVGP) regulations are rules governed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that are set to go into effect December 19, 2014. According to Professional Mariner, the sVGP will require all commercial vessels less than 79 feet in length to have regularly conducted inspections performed upon them while they…
Read MoreConstruction Barge Sinks Into the Chicago River
Construction Barge Sinks Into the Chicago River Recently, a construction barge the size of a football field and wide as a city street sank into the Chicago River, according to WBBM-TV. The barge, which was near the intersection of Wacker and Lake at the time of the incident, was filled with clay being used for…
Read MoreBarge Lighting Might Have Played a Part in Fatal Boat Wreck
Barge Lighting Might Have Played a Part in Fatal Boat Wreck There have been new developments in the investigation of a fatal boating accident that took the lives of two FBI agents, a story which we blogged about last month. According to WXIX-TV, an investigation into a collision between a pleasure boat and a barge…
Read MoreDrunk Boater Hits Rock, Sinks Vessel in Boston Harbor
On average, alcohol use is a factor in almost a third of all recreational boating fatalities in the U.S., according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Thankfully, a recreational boating accident that occurred in Boston Harbor in late September did not result in any fatalities. Still, it did leave a vessel sunk in the harbor and…
Read MoreFuel Leak Prevented After Refueling Barge Takes on Water
Fuel leaking into the water from a vessel could spell disaster for many reasons, including: Leaving the vessel stranded Putting the crew in danger of injury or death if the boat catches on fire or explodes Damaging the environment Recently, firefighters had to be called in to keep a refueling barge from sinking or leaking…
Read MoreLarger Boat Crashes Into Smaller Boat, Claims Woman’s Life
Like big rigs and small cars sharing the highway, larger vessels and small watercraft often share the same waterways. In both cases, the larger and smaller vehicles have to be extra careful around one another, because due to their size difference, a collision between the two will many times prove fatal. Unfortunately, a recreational boating…
Read MoreCrewman Missing After Falling Off Barge
It is very important for the owner and operator of any vessel to make sure it is as safe as possible for anyone riding it. This is true whether the ship is used for work or play, and it is especially important at times when environmental issues, such as the weather or even nightfall, add…
Read MoreCould a Ferry Crash Into a Pier?
Could a Ferry Crash Into a Pier? Ferry crashes often have devastating results. When you’re riding on the road in a car or truck, you are very aware of how often auto accidents occur, so you keep your guard up. However, for those riding ferryboats, their guard is often down because people are less used…
Read MoreCrews Rescued Following Multi-Vessel Dredging Accident
In the middle of any kind of major accident or disaster, the most important thing is to save as many lives and prevent as many injuries as possible. However, in the wake of such an event, the focus often shifts to helping victims put their lives back together, figuring out what caused the incident and…
Read MoreCould My Car Fall Off a Ferry Dock?
Could My Car Fall Off a Ferry Dock? According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) website, the auto capacity of the state’s Olympic Class ferries is 144 vehicles. In a tragic incident, ferry service in Southworth, Washington had to be halted recently after a fatal accident involving an SUV driving off a ferry…
Read MoreIs 90 Too Old to Operate a Boat?
While we are often quick to take the car keys away from elderly drivers, what about the keys to the boat? The factors that can cause seniors to be a danger to those on the road also apply to their fellow boaters. According to American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the risks that elderly drivers…
Read MoreBolivar Peninsula Traffic Halted Following Dredging Accident
Bolivar Peninsula Traffic Halted Following Dredging Accident Just like our highways, even shipping lanes become clogged with traffic from time to time. And similar to our roadways, those traffic jams are often caused by accidents. Recently, a dredging accident off the coast of Galveston, Texas held up traffic in the shipping lanes of the Bolivar…
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