Baltimore Bridge Collapse On March 26, a 200-million pound cargo vessel slammed into the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing a total collapse and sending multiple cars into the Patapsco River. Six people are believed to be dead while another person is believed to be in critical condition at a local trauma center….
Great Lakes Insurance SE v. Raiders Retreat Realty – Maritime Law in the Supreme Court The Supreme Court is asked to review thousands of cases every year, and few of those make it to our highest court. Maritime law is a specialized area of law, so having a case that affects maritime law reach the…
Check out this joint blog article by BoatLaw’s Nick Neidzwski and Adam Pollock of Pollock Cohen LLP! In it, they detail the False Claims Act, whistleblowers, and some examples of fraud against the federal government in the maritime industry. Click the link below to read more. If you are aware of any maritime fraud, reach…
The intensive 5-day search for closure with regards to what happened to the Titan submersible has come to an end. On June 22, the US Coast Guard confirmed that the vehicle imploded underwater; today, families and friends are grieving the loss of the 5 lives involved. The devastating events surrounding the Titan submersible last week…
When a California charter boat began taking on water after hitting a rock, the 14 passengers and crew members were told to abandon ship. Thanks to a nearby vessel, the Sea Biscuit, everyone on board was rescued and, later, taken ashore to safety by Coast Guard rescue crews. This story is a good reminder to…
Continuing conflicts between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) are causing dramatic changes to West Coast ports. Since early June, West Coast ports have experienced worker slowdowns and stoppages, resulting in an estimated $5.2 billion worth of trade stagnation in southern California alone. The Port of Seattle has…
ChatGPT—a language AI chatbot—is being used for everything from composing emails to writing code, but could it also be used for hacking? Maritime vessels are becoming increasingly updated with electronically controlled components otherwise known as Information Technology (IT) systems. As such, vessels are becoming increasingly susceptible to cyber attacks, especially if a vessel is not…
Two recent cases of maritime-related fires—one on an offshore platform and the other on a fishing vessel—remind us that fire prevention is incredibly important. In many cases, fires can be prevented with adequate planning and preparation. Below are some quick tips to reduce the risk of fire onboard a vessel and be prepared in case a fire does…
Is “containerization” the greatest invention of our time? Nowadays, purpose-built container ships carry 90% of the world’s non-bulk cargo. The use of containers not only reduced the price for shipping, but also greatly decreased the amount of time shipment took. Learn more about the history of “containerization” here: https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/history-of-containerization-simplicity-and-economics
Though they may seem peaceful, lakes can be just as dangerous as the open seas. Would you be surprised to learn that over 6,000 ships have sunk in the Great Lakes? While the location of many of those ships remain a mystery, researchers from NOAA, the state of Michigan, and Ocean Exploration Trust have recently discovered…
There was no time that Nick was ever unavailable for me. That’s what I call a friend. That is somebody who cares.
Past Client of BoatLaw Commercial Fisherman, Southeast Alaska
