FACTORY TRAWLER:

   NO TIME FOR PAIN;
         NO TIME FOR FRIENDS.

If you've ever worked aboard a factory trawler, you know that this work is some of the most dangerous and demanding work anyone can be called upon to perform. We find factory trawlers are often so busy our clients tell us there is no time for pain; no time for friends. This is true whether you work above deck, below deck as a processor, or as an engineer.




PROCESSORS

Processors are some of the most overworked, underpaid workers in the world, working in some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable.



In our work representing individuals working as processors aboard factory trawlers, we have seen virtually every injury imaginable, some of which are so traumatic we dare not repeat here what happened for fear of offending.

Factory trawlers are extraordinarily dangerous places to work. The machinery is often crammed into nook and cranny on the vessel, and run to the maximum. Many times, safety equipment has been removed, including guards and covers, to speed up operations. Fatigue is also a cause of many accidents; it's common for processors aboard factory trawlers to work 16 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week.




Processors working aboard factory trawlers are protected under Federal law and entitled to benefits as a seaman. These benefits often exceed what is available under a State workers compensation program and can include the right to recover for pain and suffering, long-term and short-term disability, all expenses related to treatment and cure, wages to the end of the contract immediately payable, and a living expense while under medical treatment, "maintenance." Over 60 years combined experience, we have helped thousands of processors recover their benefits. We typically do not charge for benefits related to medical cure, maintenance, or wages to the end of the contract. All other work is done strictly on a contingency fee basis – see Contingency Fees, this section.

DECKHAND, ENGINEER, WHEELHOUSE

We also represent officers, deckhands and persons working in the wheelhouse on factory trawlers. While the work above deck is different than that of the processor, it is no less dangerous and, in many cases, more dangerous than vessels of similar size in the merchant marine. Factory trawler work on deck, or in engineering, is also some of the most dangerous work performed anywhere.



Individuals injured on deck, in the wheelhouse or as an engineer on factory trawlers are almost always seamen entitled to full seamen's benefits. Just as in the case of processors, these individuals are entitled to recover for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, including future loss of earnings, full and complete medical benefits and treatment requirements, as well as immediate payment of wages to the end of the contract and maintenance, a living expense. Many factory trawler workers on deck are also led to believe that benefits are limited to workers compensation programs, when substantial additional benefits are available, usually just for the asking, under applicable Federal law.



Our factory trawler clients, like our processor clients, are spread out literally all over the world. Currently, we have clients in Mexico, South America, and Africa, many Southern and Midwestern states, as well as California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.

Call us for a no-obligation initial telephone consultation.