Maritime & Jones Act Workers Claims
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Gulf of Mexico Offshore Fire Spotlights Miserable Working Conditions for Foreign Workers
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 23, 2013
The two crew members, who lost their lives in a deadly fire that raged through a Black Elk Energy-operated offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this month, were Filipino nationals. The incident has spotlighted the poor working conditions facing foreign workers of the company. In fact, Black Elk Energy is currently facing charges of ab...
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Worker Killed While Performing Recovery Work on Jurong Jack up Rig
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 22, 2013
On December 3, 2012, a jack up rig collapsed at Singapore's Jurong shipyard, injuring more than 80 workers on the rig. Another worker who was working on the recovery of the rig died recently after losing consciousness on board. The jack up rig, the Noble Regina Allen, tilted suddenly last month, due to suspected brake failure. It tilted approxi...
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37 Lawsuits Filed In New York Ferry Crash
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 21, 2013
There have been 37 lawsuits filed regarding a high-speed ferry crash in New York that injured dozens of people on Jan. 9. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damage, and the company is seeking limited liability. The accident involved a high-speed ferry that crashed into a pier near Wall Street during the morning rush hour. According to some of the pa...
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More Support for Federal Offshore Safety Institute
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 21, 2013
More high-ranking federal administration officials are throwing their weight behind a proposal to establish an offshore safety institute that would keep pace with growing developments in deep water drilling, and the risks arising from such drilling. Offshore injury lawyers acutely felt the need for a strong body that would be up to speed with ...
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Federal Administration Asks Black Elk Energy to Improve Offshore Safety
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 20, 2013
After a deadly fire on a Black Elk Energy-operated platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal administration asked the company to boost safety in its offshore operations. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement informed Houston-based Black Elk Energy that it must improve safety at its offshore operations. That call from the federal ...
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Investigations into San Francisco Tanker Accident Continue
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 15, 2013
Investigations into a tanker accident, in which a tanker struck a part of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, are ongoing. The Overseas Reymar scraped out part of the tower support of the bridge in January. A 30-foot section of the fender of the tower was damaged. The United States Coast Guard released a statement in which it has said that of...
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Studies Show Hand Sanitizers Ineffective Against Norovirus Bug
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 14, 2013
Hand sanitizers may not be very effective in slowing the spread of a norovirus outbreak. Just plain old soap and water seems to be much more effective in reducing the microbial count on hands that have been contaminated with the bug. Norovirus is popularly known as the “cruise ship bug”, because these outbreaks are very often recorded on cruise...
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Black Elk Subpoenaed after Fatal Gulf of Mexico Offshore Platform Fire
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 13, 2013
Just a few days after the disastrous fire on board a shallow water offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal administration has issued a subpoena to Houston-based Black Elk Energy. The subpoena has been issued by the US Chemical Safety Board, which is seeking details about Black Elk Energy’s safety and environmental management strate...
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Crewmembers Injured in Cruise Ship Accident
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 13, 2013
At least 4 crewmembers on a cruise ship, that sustained damage during a journey to Antarctica, have been reported injured. The cruise vessel, the Silver Explorer operated by Silver Sea Cruises was returning to Argentina at the end of an 18-night trip to Antarctica when it ran into rough seas. There was damage to the ship, but none of the passen...
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Cargo Ship Chief Officer Fined for Falling Asleep on Job
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 10, 2013
The Chief Officer of a cargo ship which ran aground on the southern coast of the Island of Bute last year has been fined. The accident has been linked to the Chief Officer falling asleep at the wheel. The accident occurred on July 2, 2012, when the cargo ship Coastal Isle was on its way from Belfast to Greenock. Fortunately, there were no injur...
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Combination of Head Injury, Pesticide May Increase Parkinson's Risk
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 10, 2013
When a person who has suffered a head injury comes into consistent, close contact with the chemical herbicide paraquat, he has a heightened risk of developing Parkinson's disease. According to research conducted by scientists at the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, both head injury and paraquat on their own...
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Commercial Fishing Vessel Remains Deadliest Job in America
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 09, 2013
According to a report by NPR, fishing continued to be the deadliest occupation for workers in the United States, accounting for 121.2 fatalities for every 100,000 workers in 2011. According to statistics by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fishing continues to remain the most dangerous occupation in the country, even though the number of fisherm...
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CDC Warns of New Norovirus Strain
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 09, 2013
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning about a new highly contagious strain of the norovirus bug, which is also commonly known as the “cruise ship bug.” This bug often makes it undesirable presence felt during cruise ship journeys, bringing down crewmembers and passengers with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and abdominal...
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Norwegian Rig Personnel Evacuated after Safety Incident
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 02, 2013
Most personnel on board the floating hotel rig, the Floatel Superior in the Norwegian Continental Shelf had to be evacuated after the discovery of a damaged ballast tank recently. The workers woke up in the early hours of the morning to the news that they would have to conduct an emergency evacuation of the rig because of the discovery of a lea...
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Some Super Puma Helicopter Flights Begin after Ditching Incident
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 01, 2013
No fatalities were reported after a recent safety incident involving a helicopter that was forced to ditch in the North Sea. There were 19 people on board the helicopter, which crashed into the North Sea while it was on its way from Aberdeen to the West Phoenix semisubmersible. All 19 passengers were rescued, and then taken by helicopter back to...
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Cruise Ship Crew Member Dies of Meningitis
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 29, 2013
An Indonesian cruise ship crewmember has been confirmed dead after an attack of meningitis on a cruise vessel. The 32-year-old crewman had been hospitalized in a city in Italy, and had been undergoing treatment for his illness. He was a crew member on an MSC cruise vessel, the MSC Orchestra. At least 3 of his colleagues had also taken ill on th...
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Alabama Barge Fire Extinguished
by Dennis M. McElwee on April 25, 2013
A fire on a pair of Mobile River barges that sparked explosions and left three workers injured has been put out, according to the U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday. The workers, who were getting the barges ready for reloading at the time of the initial explosion on Wednesday night, sustained severe burn injuries, Mobile fire officials said. The work...
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Mild Hypothermia Found Effective in Treating Spinal Injury
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 24, 2013
Fall accidents are the most frequent cause of spinal cord injuries involving maritime workers. These are some of the most catastrophic injuries, and can lead to lifelong devastating consequences for the worker. These injuries are so catastrophic because there is no complete for spinal injury. However, there has been a lot of interesting new rese...
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Correct Selection of Personal Flotation Devices Can Protect Crabbers
by Dennis M. McElwee on April 23, 2013
When it comes to the use of personal flotation devices, most crabbers agree that these devices can be the only thing that saves their lives if they're unlucky enough to fall overboard. However, many crabbers avoid wearing personal flotation devices because these are seen as uncomfortable. The National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health...
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Personal Flotation Devices Help Save Lives in Maritime Accidents
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 17, 2013
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Alaska Pacific Office recently conducted a survey of the best types of personal flotation devices for fishermen. The survey included fishermen, trawlers, longliners and gillnetters. The researchers found that fishermen in different types of work may prefer different types of flotation d...
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Lax Cruise Safety Regulations Place Passengers, Crew Members at Risk
by Dennis M. McElwee on April 16, 2013
The recent Carnival Triumph disaster, in which a massive cruise ship with thousands of passengers on board lost all power and was left floating in the ocean for more than 24 hours, has made headlines. However, this is not the first time that passengers have been inconvenienced at sea, when a fire broke out on board, cutting off all electricity. ...
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Authorities Investigate New Jersey Barge Accident
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 15, 2013
Police have managed to identify the man who was killed in a barge accident in New Jersey recently. The man was killed when he was pinned under a barge under Route 35 on the Sayreville side of the Morgan Bridge. The deceased was a US Marine veteran. There are few details about how this accident occurred. Some reports have indicated that the man...
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Coast Guard Investigations into Shell Offshore Rig Finds Serious Violations
by Dennis M. McElwee on April 10, 2013
The United States Coast Guard has completed investigations of violations on board a Royal Dutch Shell drill ship off the coast of Alaska, and has handed over its findings to the Department Of Justice. The investigation has found numerous safety violations on the Noble Discoverer. The inspections came to light only after the drilling season, whe...
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Apache Prevents Possible Well Blowout in Gulf Of Mexico
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 09, 2013
Oil and gas exploration company Apache Corporation has announced that it managed to prevent a possibly disastrous well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico recently. According to the company, it identified an “abnormally pressured gas zone” during drilling operations conducted in the shallow water Main Pass 295 in the Gulf Of Mexico. The problem was ...
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Feds Order Inspection of Drilling Equipment for Possible Defects
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 08, 2013
U.S. authorities have ordered that defective components on subsea equipment on several oil rigs currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico be inspected, because of possibly dangerous consequences. At least 24 oil rigs are believed to be equipped with the faulty component, a bolt which connects blowout preventers manufactured by a General Electri...
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Outcry Over Treatment Of Ill Crewmembers On Australian Vessels
by Dennis M. McElwee on April 05, 2013
Australian unions have raised an outcry over the treatment of a large group of crewmembers on board two vessels, who are reportedly severely ill, and are being forced by their employers to continue working. The Australian Manufacturers Workers Union is calling attention towards the poor working conditions and ill-treatment of workers on the 2 v...
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Structural Defects Not to Blame for Jurong Shipyard Maritime Accident
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 04, 2013
Noble Corporation is continuing investigations into an accident at the Jurong Shipyard that injured more than 80 workers in December. The company now says that it has conducted an inspection of the Noble Regina Allen jack up which tilted on December 3, injuring several workers. The inspection has not revealed any damage to the legs, jacking syst...
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Alaska's Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Efforts Have Only Just Begun
by Dennis M. McElwee on April 03, 2013
Alaska oil and gas reserves play a huge part in the federal administration's push to make the United States energy-efficient over the next few years. Exploration activities have already begun in the state, but according to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, these efforts have only just scratched the surface of the state’s vast reserves....
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More Safety Trouble for Shell from Norwegian Offshore Regulators
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 03, 2013
Royal Dutch Shell is again at the receiving end of criticism by the official Norwegian petroleum agency, for failures related to the safety of load-bearing structures on its Norwegian Sea platform. The Draugen platform is a concrete-based facility in the Norwegian Sea. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority, it has investigated t...
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Strong Oil and Gas Drilling Activity Expected in Gulf of Mexico
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 02, 2013
Even as oil and gas exploration opportunities open up in the state of Alaska and other parts of the world, the Gulf of Mexico is poised to retain its position as one of the biggest petroleum-producing areas of the globe. According to analysts, this region is, in fact, all set to enter the next stages of extended growth, and is expected to conti...
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Feds Confirm Pilot Error Caused Houston Ship Channel Accident
by Dennis M. McElwee on March 26, 2013
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that pilot error caused a collision involving a chemical tanker and a container ship in the Houston Ship Channel last year. The accident occurred in the Houston Ship Channel in October 2011. The Greek-flagged tanker Elka Apollon was sailing outbound in the Houston Ship C...
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Maritime Workers at Risk of Electrical Injuries
by Matthew D. Shaffer on March 22, 2013
Electricity is an integral part of the modern workplace, and therefore, workers in all kinds of industries may be exposed to electrical injuries. However, maritime workers may be at an especially high risk of serious electrocutions or electrical injuries, because they work in an environment that constantly brings electricity in contact with wate...
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Man-Made Bone Material Helps Heal Fractures Quicker
by Dennis M. McElwee on March 21, 2013
Some of the more frequent injuries that maritime lawyers come across are fractures. Most often, these occur during falls on the same level or from a higher elevation. Fractures can also occur when a maritime worker is struck by flying debris, or a falling object. An accident involving heavy machinery can result in a broken bone. Workers can fall...
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Carnival Triumph Disaster Focuses Spotlight on Maritime Safety
by Matthew D. Shaffer on March 20, 2013
Recently, the nation, and in fact the world, watched transfixed as news channels carried hour-by-hour coverage of the ordeal of passengers on the Carnival Triumph, as it floated helplessly on the water. A fire had disabled the engines, and the ship was left with thousands of passengers and crewmembers on board, and no power and no water supply. ...
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11 Dead, 2 Missing After Ship Sinks Off China
by Dennis M. McElwee on March 19, 2013
A container ship capsized Monday evening in strong winds off the east coast of China, killing at least 11 crewmembers. Two crewmembers are still missing. Officials said two rescue vessels and a helicopter were searching for the missing crewmembers Tuesday. One man lost consciousness and was rescued by helicopter. The vessel was on its way from...
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Louisiana Pipeline Fire Extinguished
by Matthew D. Shaffer on March 15, 2013
A pipeline fire was finally extinguished after burning in a Louisiana bayou since Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday. One man was critically burned and three others received minor injuries in the blaze, which began when a tug pushing a barge struck the gas pipeline. While the fire was out, the Coast Guard said minimal flaring was continu...
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Pipeline Fire In Louisiana Could Continue Until Thursday
by Dennis M. McElwee on March 13, 2013
A huge fire that began Tuesday night as a tug pushing a barge in a remote Louisiana bayou struck a liquefied natural gas pipeline in shallow water could keep burning until Thursday or later. Four people were injured in the accident; three were treated and released, while one was taken to a Baton Rouge burn unit in critical condition. Pipeline o...
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1 Dead, 5 Rescued During Sailboat Race
by Matthew D. Shaffer on March 11, 2013
One sailor died and five others were rescued during a race off Southern California, authorities said Saturday. The crew radioed a mayday call Friday night when the the 32-foot Uncontrollable Urge lost steering capabilities. They also activated a feature on the boat that provided GPS coordinates and other information to authorities, but they dec...
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BP Exec Defends Gulf Oil Spill Report
by Dennis M. McElwee on March 04, 2013
A British Petroleum executive is defending a report on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion in federal court in New Orleans today. Mark Bly was in charge of the company’s investigation into the explosion that killed 11 people and sent millions of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the fourth day of testimony. The civil trial ...
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Trial Against BP, Transocean In Deepwater Horizon Disaster Set To Begin Today
by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 25, 2013
The trial over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill is set to begin this morning in New Orleans before a federal judge, with no jury. Attempts to reach a settlement over the weekend failed, but legal experts expect that one will be reached, at least with the U.S. Department of Justice, within the next few months. Eleven men were ...
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Tankers Collide Off Galveston In Gulf Of Mexico
by Dennis M. McElwee on February 22, 2013
Two chemical tankers collided in the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday about 70 miles south of Galveston, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials. Both vessels were en route to Houston at the time of the crash. The Chem Sea, a 385-foot tanker, and Bow Kiso, a 557-foot tanker, collided about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. The double-hulled Bow Kiso, a Panama...
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5 Dead, 3 Injured In Spain Cruise Ship Accident
by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 21, 2013
Five crewmembers were killed and three injured during a safety drill when a lifeboat from a cruise ship fell upside down into the sea earlier this month. The British-operated vessel was in port when the accident occurred, with about 1,400 passengers onboard. When emergency crews arrived on the scene, the small lifeboat could be seen capsized al...
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Class-Action Lawsuit Filed After Ill-fated Carnival Cruise
by Dennis M. McElwee on February 20, 2013
A class-action lawsuit filed Feb. 18 in Florida claims Carnival Corp. was negligent for allowing the cruise ship Triumph to embark on a five-day cruise when it knew the vessel was prone to mechanical issues. The ship experienced an engine-room fire three days in and spent five days disabled in the Gulf of Mexico while tugboats towed it to port ...
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Leak In Fuel Oil Line Caused Fire On Cruise Ship Triumph
by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 19, 2013
A leak in a fuel oil return line was the cause of an engine-room fire that disabled a Carnival cruise ship last weekend, a U.S. Coast Guard official said Monday. The fire left the Triumph disabled in the Gulf of Mexico for five days and the 4,200 passengers and crew without power or working toilets. A spokesman from Carnival Cruise Lines said M...
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Triumph Comes Into Port After 5 Days Adrift In Gulf
by Dennis M. McElwee on February 15, 2013
After five days adrift in the Gulf of Mexico, the Carnival cruise ship Triumph finally came into port late Thursday night. It took several hours for the more than 4,200 passengers and crewmembers to disembark the stinking vessel, which was disabled after an engine-room fire Sunday while returning to Galveston on the third day of a four-day cruis...
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Cruise Ship Triumph Limping Toward Port As Conditions Aboard Worsen
by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 14, 2013
Conditions aboard the crippled Carnival Triumph are continuing to deteriorate as the vessel is towed toward port in Mobile, Ala., today. The cruise ship, which was stranded in the Gulf of Mexico after an engine room fire knocked out its four engines, is expected to arrive late tonight. The 900-foot-long vessel was expected to arrive in port earl...
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Passenger Reports 'Gross' Conditions Aboard Disabled Cruise Ship
by Dennis M. McElwee on February 13, 2013
Passengers aboard the disabled Carnival cruise ship Triumph are struggling with dismal and deteriorating conditions, according to one passenger. The ship is being towed to a port in Alabama after a fire in the engine room left the Triumph disabled in the Gulf of Mexico. "Elderly and handicap are struggling, the smell is gross," said passenger A...
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Carnival Cruise Ship Stranded After Engine Fire
by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 11, 2013
More than 4,000 passengers and crewmembers were stranded after an engine fire left a Carnival cruise ship disabled in the Gulf of Mexico. The Carnival Triumph was moving around 150 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula when the fire broke out. The ship’s automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and contained the fire to the engine room, but the...
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Coast Guard Evacuates Man From Tanker In Gulf
by Dennis M. McElwee on February 08, 2013
A Coast Guard helicopter crew medically evacuated a man from a tanker in the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 3 after he was struck by a crane while working on deck. The 435-foot Stolt Flamenco was about 50 miles southeast of the Texas-Mexico border when the Filipino man was struck and lost feeling in the lower half of his body. The Coast Guard Sector Co...
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Seaman Sues After Falling On Vessel’s Wooden Flooring
by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 06, 2013
A seaman his filed suit in a New Orleans federal court, claiming he sustained disabling injuries from a fall after slipping on a vessel’s wooden floor. The Jones Act lawsuit accuses Big R Towing Inc. of negligence for failing to maintain the vessel and her appurtenances in a safe and reasonable state of repair. The lawsuit also claims the defe...
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