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Four-Million-Dollar Settlement Reached for Jones Act Deckhand Injured By Explosion Aboard Fishing Vessel
Posted by: James M. Beard
July 01, 2009
Topic: Injury at Sea

A four-million-dollar settlement has been reached under the Jones Act for a deckhand injured in an explosion and flash fire aboard a fishing boat. The accident happened when a defective compressor for the circulating water system exploded, resulting in burns to the fishing vessel's engineer.

The settlement was reached with the vessel owners, the manufacturer of the compressor, and the refrigeration company who installed and designed the circulating seawater system. Liability was based upon claims of faulty design, negligent maintenance, defective equipment, and improper training.

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SUPREME COURT RULES PUNITIVE DAMAGES AVAILABLE IN MAINTENANCE AND CURE CASES
Posted by: James M. Beard
June 26, 2009
Topic: Legal Cases and Concerns

The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled today that punitive damages may be awarded to Jones Act Seamen when their employer willfully and wantonly withholds payment of maintenance and cure benefits. The decision affirms the availability of punitive damages under the General Maritime Law and rejected arguments that the Court's prior decision in Miles v. Apex had prohibited such damages.

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$400,000 RECOVERY FOR FISH BOAT DECKHAND
Posted by: James M. Beard
June 01, 2009
Topic: Marine Safety

Fish Boat Deckhands who are working ashore preparing their fishing boats for work at sea may recover compensation under the Jones Act for their negligent injury. Beard Stacey Trueb and Jacobsen recovered $400,000 in compensation for a fishing trawler deckhand who fractured his arm when he fell from the top of a net pile on the dock. In preparation to put the fishing net aboard the vessel, the 20,000-pound net bundle had been wrapped with a lifting strap. A forklift was then used to attempt to pull on the strap to tighten down the net. The strap was not safely anchored to the forklift, and came loose while under heavy tension. The negligence claim was based upon the improper and unsafe manner of work. It is important to recognize that seamen may still be in the services of the vessel and entitled to coverage under the Jones Act as long as they are doing ships work, even though their accidents occurred on shore. Under Federal maritime law, an injured crewman may recover benefits for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, healthcare costs, retraining costs, and for physical and psychological injuries.

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ALASKA CREWMAN MEDEVACED FROM FISHING VESSEL
Posted by: James M. Beard
April 08, 2009
Topic: Injury at Sea

An injured crewman from the fishing vessel Collier Brothers has been medevaced from the vessel by a Coast Guard helicopter based in Kodiak. The 19-year-old crewman, Michael Calahan, reportedly severely injured his right arm while working with hydraulic equipment. The injured crewman was taken to Kodiak Island Medical Center for treatment where his condition was reported as stable. The Collier Brothers was 34 miles northeast of Kodiak Island when the accident happened. The vessel is home ported in Portland, Oregon. The full facts of the accident are unknown at this time.

Working as a commercial fisherman in Alaska remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Crewmen injured while working aboard fishing vessels are protected by Federal Maritime Law.

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Scallop Boat Lady Mary Sinks Off New Jersey With Seven Crewmen Aboard
Posted by: James M. Beard
March 25, 2009
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

The Coast Guard today scaled back the search for four missing crewmen off the 71-foot scallop boat, Lady Mary. The vessel was reported missing off the southern coast of New Jersey where it sank at approximately 5 AM on Tuesday. The Coast Guard was able to locate three crewmen through an emergency locator beacon. However, two of the rescued crewmen were pronounced dead, and hope for rescue of the remaining four crewmen is growing small. A Coast Guard cutter remains at the scene searching. Reportedly all crewmen donned survival suits before abandoning the fishing vessel. Nearby vessels reported a sudden worsening of the weather conditions shortly before the accident. The Coast Guard will continue investigation into the circumstances of the vessel sinking.

The sinking of the Lady Mary follows similar recent tragedies in Alaska's Bering Sea, where the Alaska Ranger and Katmai sank last year with the loss of twelve crewmen. The fishing vessel Arctic Rose that sank in Alaska in 2001 with the loss of 15 lives is one of the most deadly maritime fishing accidents in recent history. The loss of six crewmen from the Lady Mary would mark the accident as one of the worst in New Jersey history.

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Crewman Aboard American Seafoods Northern Eagle Suffers Head Injury in Alaska
Posted by: James M. Beard
March 25, 2009
Topic: Injury at Sea

A crewman aboard the F/V Northern Eagle was airlifted from the vessel by a Coast Guard helicopter after reportedly falling down a 15-foot elevator shaft. The 23-year-old crewman is reported to have suffered head injuries. The Northern Eagle, which is reportedly owned and operated by American Seafoods, is a 341-foot fishing vessel home ported in Seattle, Washington. The vessel is a large catcher/processor/factory-type trawler with a crew of approximately 100 on board. At the time of the accident the vessel was fishing northeast of Dutch Harbor. Further details of the accident have not yet been released.

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CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE POLLUTION FROM GROUNDED ALASKA FISHING BOAT
Posted by: James M. Beard
March 06, 2009
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

The Coast Guard is concerned over possible fuel leakage from the grounded fishing vessel, MAR GUN. The vessel went aground early yesterday morning on St. George Island. The five-member crew of the MAR GUN was rescued from the vessel by a United States Coast Guard helicopter. However, the grounded vessel is reportedly carrying 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and is near a fur seal and sea lion rookery; an island which is also home to one of the largest nesting colonies of sea birds in the Northern Hemisphere. Because of the sensitive nature of the environment, the Coast Guard has mobilized the National Strike Force's Pacific Strike Force Team to respond to the threat of pollution, and they will reportedly be working to remove the fuel and lube oil from the vessel. They are anticipated to be on the scene late Friday afternoon. No pollution has been reported at this time. The MAR GUN crew transferred fuel to the vessel's interior tanks prior to abandoning the vessel.

The MAR GUN is a 112-foot Seattle based trawler that fishes in the Bering Sea for pollock. The details of the cause of the grounding are unclear at this time, and the United States Coast Guard will be conducting further investigations.

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FIVE CREWMEN RESCUED FROM GROUNDED FISHING TRAWLER
Posted by: James M. Beard
March 06, 2009
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

The fishing vessel MAR-GUN issued a mayday call early this morning, reporting they were aground half a mile from St. George Island, Alaska. The five-member crew aboard the 112-foot Seattle based stern trawler were hoisted to safety by a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. Weather at the scene was reported to be 57 mile per hour winds with 5-6 foot seas. No injuries were initially reported, and the accident will be investigated by the United States Coast Guard.

This is the second close call for an Alaska fishing boat in the past week. The ICY MIST went aground on Akutan Island on February 25^th. Quick rescue action by the Coast Guard has been instrumental in saving the crews of the MAR-GUN and ICY MIST. Tragically, the first anniversary of the sinking of the ALASKA RANGER will be marked on March 23^rd.

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FOUR ALASKA CRAB FISHERMEN SAVED FROM SINKING VESSEL
Posted by: James M. Beard
February 26, 2009
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

Four crewmen from the ICY MIST have been rescued from their sinking vessel by the United States Coast Guard. The ICY MIST reportedly began taking on water early Wednesday morning, and issued a Mayday call that was relayed to the Coast Guard by other nearby fishing vessels. The ICY MIST went aground on the western shore of Akutan Island. Weather conditions were severe with winds reaching up to 120 mph. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescued the crewmen, who were able to make it ashore and climb shore-side cliffs so the Coast Guard helicopter could safely hoist them up. Reported rescued from the vessel are: Dan Oliver; Clint Packer; Kevin Fisner; and Terry Meyer. There was no reported known cause of the vessel distress, and the Coast Guard will be investigating the cause of the accident.

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MAYDAY RECEIVED FROM "ICY MIST"
Posted by: James M. Beard
February 25, 2009
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

The United States Coast Guard reports that they have received a Mayday call for the 58-foot commercial fishing vessel, ICY MIST.  The fishing vessels Arctic Fox and Norther Glacier relayed the early morning Mayday call to the Coast Guard, reporting that the ICY MIST was taking on water.  The vessel is reportedly grounded on the shore of Akutan Island, and is in danger of breaking up.  Akutan is a remote island approximately 80 miles east of Dutch Harbor.  Four crewmen are reportedly on board the vessel.  The Coast Guard Cutter Monroe, and two Jayhawk helicopters are en route to assist the vessel.

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