On Friday, May 29th, in the port of Bellingham, Washington, one crew member of a 272-foot trawler known as The American Dynasty was admitted to the hospital for treatment of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Consequently, the company tested the rest of the crew under their COVID-19 response plan, only to find an additional 85 crew members…
On Saturday, July 11, 2020, a U.S. Coast Guard aircrew from Coast Guard Sector North Bend medically evacuated a fisherman from the fishing vessel McKenzie Rose. The situation developed in the early morning approximately 100 miles off the coast of Coos Bay, Oregon. The vessel’s captain reported that a 26-year-old mariner had sustained a head injury and…
One mariner was rescued, while two others were tragically killed in the early hours of June 29, 2020, after the sinking of fishing vessel AQUARIUS near Florence, Oregon. The deceased were later identified as the owners of Florence’s Novelli’s Crab & Seafood restaurant, Kyle and Amber Novelli. The incident began at approximately 1:50 a.m. when a…
The Maritime Executive reports that per the National Transportation Safety Board’s release of the Marine Accident Brief on the sinking and flooding of the commercial fishing vessel PACIFIC 1, the probable cause which led to the vessel sinking was the captain’s decision to remain at sea with continuous flooding in the lazarette from an unknown…
After an accident, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. Dealing with injuries, medical treatment, and the uncertainty of your work future can create significant stress. During this time, it’s easy to unintentionally do something that could weaken your future legal claim. It’s essential to be mindful of your actions, as they can significantly impact your ability…
The Superior Court of New Jersey in Latter v. 3M Company, No. L-10370-08, 2015 WL 868048 (March 3, 2015) reversed the trial court’s grant of summary judgment against a deceased seaman, Mr. Henry Latter. Mr. Latter died from mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure which Mr. Latter alleged occurred in part while he was…
Without a showing of any fault, a shipowner under general maritime law has a duty to provide maintenance, cure, and unearned wages to a seaman who becomes ill or is injured while in the service of the ship. Aguilar v. Standard Oil Co., 318 U.S. 724, 730-31 (1943). “Maintenance” is traditionally defined as a “living…
This morning, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued three crew members who had abandoned their burning fishing vessel, the 35-foot Havanna, approximately 17 miles west of Cannon Beach, Oregon. The crew members were forced to abandon the vessel and took refuge in a life raft while waiting for help to arrive. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter…
This is the 50th anniversary of the “Columbus Day Storm,” the most powerful extratropical storm of all time. It is an appropriate moment to contemplate the significance of fall weather patterns to the North Pacific marine industry. Many years ago, a partner at the maritime law firm of BoatLaw was a principal of a tug…
The U.S. Coast Guard has reported that five fishermen were rescued from an island south of Kodiak early this morning after their 58-foot-long fishing vessel struck a rock and started taking on water. According to Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley, the crew of the KODIAK ISLE contacted watchstanders just after midnight…
