Recent Updates
August 30, 2010
Alaska Fishing Boat Sinks After Hitting Iceberg; Crew of Three Saved By Nearby Vessels
August 26, 2010
Tug Boat Deckhand Suffers Head Injury
August 12, 2010
Marine Electrician Recovers $740,000 Jones Act Verdict After Fall From Ladder
August 12, 2010
Crewman On Fishing Vessel RONDYS Suffers Head Injury
August 09, 2010
Capsized Charter Boat Found Off Vancouver Island
August 04, 2010
Fisherman Suffers Head Injury Off Oregon Coast
July 29, 2010
Court Rules Statements In Crewman's Accident Report Not Admission of No Fault
July 28, 2010
Seattle Fishing Vessel Aground in Prince William Sound
July 09, 2010
Alaska Fishermen's Fund Benefits Increased to $10,000
July 09, 2010
Price Fixing Suit Filed Against Pacific Seafoods
Injury at Sea
FIRE ABOARD THE SHRIMP BOAT KEMO SABAY SENDS CREWMAN TO HOSPITAL WITH BURNS
Posted by: James M. Beard
July 31, 2009
The shrimp fishing vessel KEMO SABAY caught fire and burned on Thursday when a propane tank was tipped over and ignited. Three crewmen were rescued by nearby vessels. One of three crewmen aboard the vessel was seriously burned and was medivaced to Harborview Hospital for treatment. The KEMO SABAY is home ported in Port Townsend.
The maritime injury lawyers at Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobsen, LLP recently settled another case for a crewman injured in a Washington fishing vessel fire and explosion for 4 million dollars. Fire and explosion cases involve complex factual and legal issues. Vessel owners frequently attempt to limit the crewman's right to compensatory damages in cases such as this by employing an ancient law called the Limitation of Liability Act.
F/V ALASKA WARRIOR LOSES MAN OVERBOARD
Posted by: James M. Beard
July 08, 2009
The search for a 58-year-old crewman that fell overboard off the ALASKA WARRIOR on Monday has been called off. The crewman was reportedly not wearing any floatation devices or survival gear. The ALASKA WARRIOR is a 192-foot head and gut fish processing vessel owned and operated by the Fishing Company of Alaska. The accident happened in Amukta Pass, about 218 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The Fishing Company of Alaska was also the owner of the ALASKA RANGER that sank in March of 2008 with the loss of five crewmen. The Coast Guard Casualty Investigation into the ALASKA RANGER has not yet been concluded. Less than a week ago another Seattle based fishing trawler, the REBECCA IRENE, lost a crewman overboard. The two recent accidents again emphasize the continued need for heightened safety standards and procedures in the Alaska fishing industry.
CREWMAN MISSING FROM ALASKA FISHING BOAT
Posted by: James M. Beard
July 08, 2009
The REBECCA IRENE reported that a crewman has fallen overboard and is missing in the Bering Sea. The accident happened on July 3rd about 24 miles southeast of Umnak Island. The REBECCA IRENE is a 140-foot trawler owned by Rebecca Irene Fisheries, a Seattle-based fishing company. The search for the 38-year-old missing crewman, Nhial Opiew, was suspended by the Coast Guard on Sunday. Search efforts were reportedly hindered by low visibility. The details of the accident are unknown at this time and will probably be the subject of a Coast Guard Casualty Investigation
Four-Million-Dollar Settlement Reached for Jones Act Deckhand Injured By Explosion Aboard Fishing Vessel
Posted by: James M. Beard
July 01, 2009
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.
