A crewmember on an offshore supply vessel that ran aground at the Galveston North Jetty last week, sustained injuries, and had to be taken to the hospital. The accident occurred at the Galveston Jetties over the weekend when the offshore supply vessel, the Ashton T ran aground. The 94-foot vessel was carrying about 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel at the time of the accident.
One crew member on the offshore supply vessel suffered serious injuries in the accident. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital. There is no information about the kind of injuries that the crew members suffered. However, there was no damage to the offshore supply vessel’s fuel tanks, and so far, there have been no reports of any pollution or spill. No other crew members are reported to have been injured.
Efforts are currently on to move the vessel to a safe place, with minimal impact to the environment. The owners of the vessel, T and T Marine, are also cooperating with the local authorities in the matter.
Investigations into the cause of the grounding have already begun. The Coast Guard was able to respond to the scene of the accident soon enough.
Workers who are stationed on an offshore supply vessel may also meet the criteria for a Jones Act seaman. This means that they may be eligible for all the benefits and privileges that are accorded to a Jones Act seaman. These workers may be eligible for maintenance and cure in the event of an injury. The payments are meant to cover the cost of living, as well as the medical expenses of the seaman after the injury. Further, a seaman who has been injured due to the negligence of the employer can file a Jones Act personal injury lawsuit against the employer.
The maritime lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers represent offshore supply vessel crewmembers who have been injured in accidents.