Tragically, on March 14, the captain of a tugboat died following a sinking incident in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Long Island.
According to Professional Mariner, the incident, which remains under investigation, also involved three crewmembers who managed to put on survival suits while abandoning the Sea Bear as it began to take on water off Fire Island. The news outlet reported that the tugboat began to take on water quickly, but investigators have yet to determine why.
Wittich Bros. Marine Inc. of Brielle, N.J. owned the vessel, which remains at the ocean’s floor. The tugboat was reportedly traveling from Hampton Bays to New York City after completing a dredging project. After the boat began to take on water, a crewmember called the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service in New York.
The three crewmembers who survived the incident had to be treated at Station Fire Island for hypothermia. The captain who died was identified as Donald Maloney, 60, of Pennsylvania, by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Maloney’s family told Professional Mariner that it still has not learned why the incident took place. The family said that the other crewmembers said that there is “no way” Maloney panicked as he was trying to put on his survival suit.
Working With an Attorney Following a Maritime Death
Unfortunately, many sinking events result in drowning incidents as people are trapped. When a death occurs, family members of victims should speak to our maritime attorneys about pursuing compensation under the Jones Act or other laws that may apply
Our attorneys can help your family maximize any compensation you may be entitled to because of our vast understanding of maritime law. In the video above, attorney Carolyn Latti explains whom our firm represents, including the family members of those killed aboard commercial vessels.
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