We often have occasion to praise the princely courage of our Coast Guardsmen, their valor in rescuing mariners in peril. British news sources now report an instance of an actual prince rendering courageous service of the same sort. RAF Search and Rescue and Prince William have been praised for rescue efforts following the November 27…
Those who earn their living at sea have an additional reason to be thankful this year: The U.S. Supreme Court, and lower courts, have recently made rulings of benefit to injured seamen. The Supreme Court has affirmed the historic principle that a seaman may recover damages if vessel negligence contributed in any degree, no matter…
Before the LADY MARY sank off Cape May, N.J., in 2009 with the loss of six lives, it had been structurally modified “without consulting a naval architect,” federal safety officials said. The scallop trawler’s owners hadn’t assessed its stability. The crew didn’t realize the importance of keeping the vessel watertight during severe weather. And the…
Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court preserved a legal rule which has for 50 years helped railway workers and Jones Act seamen recover fair compensation for their injuries. Despite a vigorous dissent by the Chief Justice, the majority in CSX Transportation, Inc. v. McBride held that if employer negligence plays any part in causing injury to…
Two senators are key to passing legislation requiring the first overhaul of inspections and standards for America’s fishing fleets. They are on opposite coasts, from states that share rich maritime traditions. Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell chairs the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Maine Sen. Olympia…
Another tragedy has struck the Alaska fishing fleet. The KATMAI, a 93-foot head and gut fishing vessel capsized and sank in the Aleutian Islands early in the morning on Wednesday, October 22. It now appears that only four of the KATMAI’s eleven crewmembers survived. The last communication from the KATMAI was an e-mail reporting incursion…
Vessel crewmembers are working people. They don’t benefit from tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. They need the benefits and protection sought by labor unions and the party of labor, the Democrats. They need affordable health care and Social Security. They need good public schools for their children. They need an intelligent energy policy and…
The Supreme Court reduced the payout from $2.5 Billion to $507.5 and Exxon Denies Interest is owed. The Supreme Court has left Alaska Fishermen reeling from the June decision reducing the judgment dramatically. Claimants have waited twenty years only to learn that the amount of their compensation has been arbitrarily reduced. Prince William Sound has yet…
Anderson, Connell & Carey has being fighting to improve fishing vessel safety for 30 years. We have fought hundreds of lawsuits to penalize vessel owners for negligence and unseaworthy conditions. To date governmental regulation has been limited. For decades industry lobbyists have opposed inspection of fishing vessels and license requirements for shipboard personnel. The fishing…
Politics in Alaska is a brand new game for both Democrats and Republicans. The change comes on the heals of the recent indictment of long time Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. Two years ago, Ted Stevens was still the powerful long ruling senator from Alaska, delivering billions of federal dollars to his home state, when federal…
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
