Articles Posted in Injury at Sea

A crewman from the 792 foot containership CAP GILBERT has been reported as having fallen overboard and is missing 450 miles south of Adak Island, Alaska. The Liberian flagged CAP GILBERT was enroute from China to Mexico when the crewman fell into seas estimated at 20 feet. The vessel contacted the United States Coast Guard to assist in the search for the missing 26 year old crewman from Burma. The Coast Guard search has been suspended after searching nearly 900 square miles with no sign of the missing crewman.

On December 21, 2009, a 740 foot Indian flagged freighter, SURYAVIR, has lost power and is battling high winds and seas 540 miles southwest of Alaska’s Adak Island. The vessel has 28 crewmen on board and is currently handling 20-30 foot seas and 50 mile an hour winds. There are no current plans to abandon the ship which has been in continuos contact with the United States Coast Guard. The Maersk ALTAIR is in route to the disabled vessel to provide assistance if necessary, a commercial tug has also been dispatched and is scheduled to reach the vessel on Tuesday. The SURYVAIR was in route from China to the Columbia river and is reported to be carrying no cargo.

A 20 year old crab fisherman has been reported as lost overboard from the F/V VICIOUS FISHER 20 miles west of La Push, Washington. The crewman was wearing rain gear and no life jacket or flotation device. The Coast Guard is conducting a search for the missing fisherman. The VICIOUS FISHER is home ported in Bellingham, Washington.

This is the second crab fisherman lost overboard in Washington in three weeks. In the first week of December, a crewman was lost from the F/V BALLAD. The commercial crab fishery in Washington and Oregon remains the most deadly fishery on the west coast. Few safety regulations apply to uninspected commercial fishing vessels involved in the Washington and Oregon crab fisheries.

The families of crewmen lost in fishing accidents have rights under Federal Maritime laws including the Jones Act and the Death On the High Seas Act.

Working as a crewman aboard a ship, tug, barge or fishing vessel, constantly exposes crewman to the risk of injuries to their hands, feet, arms and legs. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a frequent complication of those hand, feet, arm, and leg injuries that requires early diagnosis and treatment to maximize recovery. There is no prevention for CRPS and early diagnosis and treatment is key to slowing the progression of what may develop into a chronic pain that renders a maritime worker disabled.

CRPS is a chronic pain condition. It is a neurological disorder that affects the central and peripheral nervous systems. Statics show that CRPS may develop in 1 to15 percent of injuries to the peripheral nerves and in 10 to 30 percent of injuries involving fractures. Although the exact physiological mechanism of CRPS is still under investigation, CRPS is clearly related to trauma. Even a minor injury can trigger Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

CRPS, which is also referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), can be severely disabling, causing constant intense burning pain in one or more extremities. Pain and swelling in the affected limb may spread. CRPS victims have cold sensitivity and develop stiff muscles and joints that may result in contractions and muscle wasting. In the late stages of CRPS, depression and mood changes are frequently present, bone scans may show diffuse demineralization of the bones and osteoporosis in the affected hand, foot, arm, or leg.

On August 30, 2009, the Coast Guard reported that it received a call that the 47 foot fishing vessel DA OPAILOLO II was towing a pleasure craft when the tow line became caught in the propeller.

The DA OPAILOLO II rescued two people aboard the pleasure craft MY ESCAPE that had capsized. The two crewmembers were found clinging to the hull when they were taken aboard the DA OPAILOLO II. The DA OPAILOLO II only made it 12 miles before the tow line became tangled in the propeller. The Coast Guard patrol boat, AHI, towed the DA OPAILOLO II the remainder of the way and the partially submerged MY ESCAPE was abandoned.

On August 30, 2009, the Coast Guard reported that it received a distress call from the fishing vessel the DIANE LYNN II, a 65 foot dragger, when it began taking on water off the coast of Maine. The vessel was on its way to offload its catch when it began taking on water, however the dewatering pumps couldn’t keep up.

The Coast Guard arrived on scene approximately an hour later and helped secure the source of the flooding. The vessel was able to sail to the Harbor with a Coast Guard escort where it offloaded its catch before undergoing repairs.

The Coast Guard unit in New Orleans has reported that on August 9, 2009, it received a report that two fishermen were missing by Hopedale, Louisiana. Because of weather, the Coast Guard could not begin a search until Monday morning. A MH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter was launched and located the missing boaters who were then guided by spotlight and radio to familiar waters.

On Monday, August 10, 2009, the Coast Guard reported that it received a call at 4:30 a.m. that a boat had capsized and one of the three men who were in the boat was missing. The Coast Guard unit in New Orleans immediately launched a search team to assist with local law enforcement. According to the Coast Guard, the man was located approximately 150 feet from shore. The 40 year old man was rescued by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and was hoisted into a MH-65C Dolphin Helicopter where he was then transferred to Emergency Medical Services and taken to a local hospital. The Court Guard states his condition is unknown.

The law office of Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobsen, PLLC urges all mariners to use extreme caution when boating at night and to wear all proper safety equipment, especially life jackets. The maritime lawyers at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC represent injured mariners throughout the nation in claims involving the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. For any questions regarding maritime law or injuries sustained while working aboard a vessel, contact us at 206.282.3100 or visit our website at www.atsealawyer.com.

The bodies of two swimmers, a 57-year old male and his 13 year-old nephew, have been recovered from Lake St. Clair near Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday. Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel reported that the two had jumped into the water to go swimming with a 31-year old relative. Their pontoon boat, however, drifted away a significant distance with a 73-year old woman aboard. Rescue crews were able to rescue the 31-year old male, however were unable to locate either the 57-year old or the 13-year old. Hackel did not specify whether they were wearing life jackets.
The law office of Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobsen, PLLC strongly urges all those on a boat, whether professionally or for pleasure, to wear the proper safety equipment. This equipment will help save your life should an accident such as this occur. The maritime lawyers at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC represent injured mariners throughout the nation in claims involving the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. For any questions regarding maritime law or injuries sustained while working aboard a vessel, contact us at 206.282.3100 or visit our website at atsealawyer.com.

The United States Coast Guard airlifted a fisherman who sustained a bad cut on a fishing vessel off the coast of Beach Haven, New Jersey on Sunday. The injured fisherman is a 22-year-old mariner who was working aboard the Captain Bob, which was operating 110 miles east of Beach Haven, when the injury was sustained. Both the individual’s name and the cause of injury have not been reported, however the fisherman did sustain a long serious cut below his elbow across the width of his arm. The individual was airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The maritime lawyers at Beard Stacey Trueb and Jacobsen represent injured mariners throughout the nation in claims involving the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. For any questions regarding maritime law or injuries sustained while working aboard a vessel, contact us at 206.282.3100 or visit our website at atsealawyer.com.