Working at sea comes with a unique set of challenges and risks, making it one of the most demanding occupational circumstances in the world. For example, deckhands are consistently exposed to unpredictable weather, rough seas and a range of potentially dangerous...
Year: 2023
The occupational hazards of container ship operations
Container ships are an integral part of global trade. They are responsible for transporting goods across long distances efficiently. While these vessels seem like marvels of modern engineering, they also pose significant dangers to the workers who operate and maintain...
When is a vessel “in navigation,” and why does it matter?
If you’ve been researching your rights to compensation for a work-related injury or illness under the Jones Act, you’ve likely come across the term “vessel in navigation.” It’s important to understand how this term is defined. To be considered a “seaman” under this...
Immersion suit safety: 6 tips you can use
In a crisis, you could be forced to abandon ship – and an immersion suit could be the key to your survival. These “survival suits” are designed to help sailors and other seamen endure the waters while they await rescue. A 2020 tragedy involving a fishing boat,...
Stay safe while working on a boat this summer
Working on a boat during the summertime can be enjoyable, but it also presents unique safety challenges. Many of the same safety tips that apply to recreational boaters also apply to professional mariners, at least when it comes to “beating the heat” when working out...
How families seek justice after a wrongful death at sea
With so much recreation and enterprise occurring offshore in the San Diego area, the possibilities for injury are all but endless. Occasionally, what would have resulted in grounds for a personal injury lawsuit by someone who gets hurt offshore results in their death....
3 ways employers may expose professional divers to risk
For some people, securing the training necessary to use self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) gear or diving equipment is part of the prep work for a dream vacation. For others, it is a pathway toward a challenging and rewarding profession....
The health effects for all of those who clean up an oil spill
Wherever there’s underground oil drilling, oil spills are an unfortunate – and often preventable -- fact of life. While the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the largest in U.S. history, we’ve had our fair share off the Pacific Coast. Less than two...
Fatigue is an often-ignored maritime injury risk
Those who work in the maritime industry often receive generous wages because they have dangerous jobs that may involve spending days or weeks away from home. Maritime employees depend on their competitive income to provide a reasonable standard of living for their...
Rising fuel costs could lead to maritime contract disputes
Fuel costs can easily become a point of conflict between two companies that are parties to a contract related to maritime goods or services. Perhaps a maritime transportation company signed a fuel contract with a provider that now insists it will not uphold the...