Maritime Injury Lawyer Blog

A loss of propulsion control caused by a faulty valve and lack of alarm to alert crewmembers caused the 2010 Staten Island Ferry collision with the ferry terminal, according to findings from the NTSB investigation into the incident.  

The NTSB says that on May 8, 2010, the 310-foot-long passenger ferry Andrew J. Barberi, one of two ferry boats operated as part of the world famous Staten Island Ferry, lost propulsion control to one its two cycloidal propellers as the vessel approached St. George terminal in Staten Island, New York, causing the ferry to crash into the dock.  The crash resulted in three passengers suffering serious injuries and more than 40 passengers and crew reported with minor injuries.

Continue reading "Staten Island Ferry Crash" »

Three sailors died and eight others are missing after a Turkish trade ship collided with a passenger ferry and sank in the Adriatic.

Sailing under a Maltese flag and loaded with aluminum, the 3,000-ton Reina 1, whose owner and crew were Turkish, sank immediately after the collision with the car ferry Ankara in international waters, said police spokeswoman Ornela Cako. The crash happened at around 2 a.m. (23:00 GMT) on Thursday some 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the Albanian port of Durres.

Continue reading "3 Sailors Dead, 8 Missing" »

A man either fell or jumped from a Washington State Ferry was rescued from the waters of Puget Sound on Tuesday afternoon by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said a crew on one of their escort boats saw someone jump off the Walla Walla and into the water. The boat investigated and pulled a person out of the water.

The man, in his 40s, was in the water for less than a minute and was taken to the Bell Harbor Marina to be evaluated by a Seattle Fire Department crew, the Coast Guard said. Crews there warmed him up and took him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The man did not suffer major injuries.

A King County Judge has ordered B&N Fisheries to reinstate an injured crewman's maintenance and care benefits.

The Court further ordered the company to authorize surgery for the crewman's elbow and to pay reasonable attorney fees in connection with the motion. B&N Fisheries moved to block the attorney fee award, arguing that only a jury can determine the amount of attorney fees due in a case involving the wrongful withholding of maintenance and care. The Court denied the motion and again affirmed the crewman's right to be compensated for attorney fees.

"Everything below deck is toast," remarked a firefighter.

And so is a piece of Northwest maritime history.

An Aug. 28 blaze gutted the engine room of the tour boat MV Kirkland at its Marina Park dock in Kirkland, Wash. In all likelihood the fire spelled an end to the vessel's long career, which dates to 1924.

The wooden-hulled boat was regarded as a treasure by its owners, Argosy Cruises, as well as Kirkland residents. Used primarily on Lake Washington, it's listed on the Washington Heritage Register and National Register of Historic Places.

Continue reading "Fire means end of historic ferry" »

President Obama is expected to sign a sweeping authorization bill that reorganizes U.S Coast Guard operations, increases maritime safety rules and calls for improved oil-spill prevention and response in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The legislation, largely written by Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, was blocked by Republican leaders in the Senate for the past four years. To get approval, several provisions were stripped from the bill in the Senate. Then in the House, many of these ideas were put back in and ultimately approved when it came back to the Senate.

What are the most important parts of the bill? Well, that depends on whether you are involved in the Coast Guard, the shipping industry, the fishing fleet or just want to protect against oil spills or terrorists.

Continue reading "Coast Guard bill covers safety" »

The first new ferry in Washington state in more than a decade will make its inaugural sailing Sunday, Nov. 14, between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend.

The 64-vehicle MV Chetzemoka, named after the late Klallam Chief Chetzemoka, will be christened by Gov. Chris Gregoire and recognized by the Klallam tribes. Chief Chetzemoka was known as a peaceful man and a wise diplomat who was believed to be about 80 when he died in 1888.

The governor, legislators, state and local officials and an estimated 300 invited guests from communities on both sides of Admiralty Inlet will board the vessel at the Whidbey Island Coupeville (Keystone) terminal following ceremonies. They will take a one-hour cruise to Port Townsend where representatives of the Klallam tribes will conduct a ceremony aboard the Chetzemoka.

Continue reading "Chetzemoka makes inaugural sailing." »

The West Seattle water taxi rammed the sea wall at the Seattle waterfront Sunday, becoming wedged under the Washington Street Public Boat Landing.

Service was briefly suspended Sunday when the Rachel Marie struck the dock. County officials say Pier 50 was not damaged in the accident because the boat veered south and ran into another small dock.

Seven passengers were taken to hospital, their injuries were not believed to be significant, according to Coast Guard Lt. Jon Lane. None remained hospitalized Monday

Coast Guard inspectors are determining what caused the vessel to crash into the sea wall. Preliminary reports point to a mechanical malfunction, according to King County. The vessel caused "fairly significant" damage, Lane said, and had been wedged under the landing, on the Seattle waterfront. The vessel was traveling at about 6 knots.

Lane said 73 people were onboard the Rachel Marie at the time of the accident, many headed to the Seahawks game.