Employment aboard a tugboat carries inherent risks, emphasizing the crucial role tugboat owners play in maximizing crew safety and assuming financial liability in case of crew injuries. Regrettably, many tug and barge companies neglect these obligations. However, Federal Maritime law offers unique protection for crew members who sustain injuries while…
If you have suffered severe injuries or fallen ill during your employment as a deckhand, fisherman, seaman, or fish processor, you may be asking, “Who is responsible for covering my medical expenses, and what compensation am I entitled to during my recovery period?” Every worker serving on a vessel, if…
Trident Seafoods is in the process of constructing the initial bunkhouses for their upcoming processing plant located in Captains Bay, Unalaska. The company hopes to have the plant operational by 2027. The Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea are known for some of the most productive fishing grounds globally. The region…
Maritime law, also known as maritime injury law or admiralty or law, is a specialized area of law that deals with legal issues arising from accidents, injuries, and disputes that occur on navigable waters, including seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, and other waterways. This body of law encompasses both civil and…
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Roger Fitzgerald, an 85-year-old maritime writer. He was best known for his column titled “In Search of the Simple Life”. His column brought joy and amusement to commercial fishermen spanning from Seattle to the Bering Sea and beyond. The…
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the “catastrophic implosion” of the privately-owned underwater vessel TITAN. The vessel was destroyed while en route to the wreckage site of the TITANTIC, resulting in the tragic loss of all five individuals on board. On Sunday, June 18, 2023, the TITAN…
On June 15th, the U.S. Coast Guard Base Seattle celebrated the change of command ceremony hosted by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. During the event, Capt. Mark McDonnell assumed command of Sector Puget Sound, relieving Capt. Patrick Hilbert from his position as the commander. The ceremony was overseen by…
On Sunday June 11th at approximately 2:25 p.m., U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders received a call from a witness reporting that a boat had overturned. Two individuals entered the water east of Tongue Point on the Columbia River, near Astoria. Responding promptly to the distress call was a…
After 17 years, the HUBBARD, an Alaska-built ferry, embarked on its maiden voyage. The ferry, which measures 280-feet long, took an additional four years to enter service due to the need for crew quarters, an amenity that was not part of the vessel’s original design. U.S. Coast Guard regulations limit…
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people on Monday morning, May 29th, after their vessel sank in the waters off Cape Arago beach, about 15 miles southwest of Coos Bay. At about 8 a.m. the U. S. Coast Guard received a distress call reporting that a fishing boat was taking…