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Nov 24, 2013

Dangers of Offshore Workers

Offshore work can be dangerous and demanding. Those who physically fit are often the safest. Workers need to have an incredible mix of both physical and emotional strength and fortitude. Work is not only difficult, but also dangerous work conditions can add to the difficulty of performing the job. All too often, workers are at the mercy of their company to ensure that they are safe.

Companies must follow specific safety procedures. If they don’t they can be heavily fined. Of course, offshore operations are quite complex. Not only are there many different jobs that need to be performed, but there are also many different pieces of machinery that must be operated and maintained. Rough weather conditions can make the job more difficult.

With so much going on, it’s no wonder that offshore jobs are considered dangerous. It is important for offshore workers to know that they have rights and are protected if they are injured while working. If you have been injured it is important to talk to a Baytown personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The lawyer will review the facts of the accident and advise you as to the best way to proceed.

Companies are under legal obligation to keep working conditions safe for their employees. Even so, many of these offshore locations are operating under difficult circumstances and may not meet the standards that they should. When a worker is injured due to the negligence of the company, the worker is entitled to compensation.

Talk to a Baytown personal injury attorney to seek help in dealing with an injury. The injury may not only be painful, but it may also cause you to have expensive medical bills. Additionally, you may need to take time off work while you are recovering. A Baytown personal injury attorney will discuss your options with you and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Aug 1, 2013

Life Jackets Save Lives … Hence the Name

Two fisherman in Bridlington recently made a short film about wearing life jackets to encourage others to increase their safety when at sea. The film is two minutes long and is available on the social network site YouTube with the title “Life Jacket: a Fisherman’s Friend.”

The two men decided to make a film after a conclusion from a panel of experts found that 26 fishermen may still be here today if they were wearing a life jacket. A fishing boat back in 2007 was involved in an incident while at sea. The statistic released alarmed the Fishing Industry Safety Group that they took the initiative to being more attention to safety. Safety when on a boat at sea is important and a maritime lawyer can provide legal advice to fisherman involved in any accidents when on a boat.

The group approached two fishermen with the idea of making a short film about life jacket Safety. This led the pair to begin work on the film with help from members of the Fishing Industry Safety Group. A life jacket is necessary when going out to sea. Many fisherman have stated they will not go our to sea if one is not available. The biggest reason is that people often gasp and forget how to stay afloat after they hit the water. Fisherman can have severe difficulties if a life jacket is not being worn.

Anyone who is a fisherman should watch “Life Jacket: a Fisherman’s Friend” to learn about the need of a life jacket. The goal is to have fisherman consider buying and using a life jacket when they set out for a daily sea voyage. A life jacket is easy to wear by any adult. They are not heavy and do not prevent the user from performing any activities when on a boat.

Fisherman with questions about the lack of a life jacket on a boat should contact a maritime lawyer that can provide anyone with much-needed advice.

Jul 31, 2013

Hijacked Ship Sinks

Life at sea can be tough. Rugged waters, arduous work schedules and long periods away from the family all make sea duty difficult. Most sailors enjoy the life, nevertheless, because of the adventure, travel, and pay. These people, full of wanderlust, often forget the possible dangers. One crew became sadly aware of the omnipresent threat of piracy on the high seas in late 2010. On November 26, 2010, the Albedo, a ship sailing under a Malaysian registry, came under attack while sailing 900 miles off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia. Pirates overtook the crew of 23 sailors, with the expressed intent of holding the men for ransom. The ship remained seized and in possession of pirates, in waters near Somalia, until July 7, 2013, when it sank.

Negotiations

The men held captive suffered through over two-and-half years of anguish. Pirates raid vessels for profit. In this case, the monetary reward was ransom, payable by the company or family. Enrich Shipping owned and operated the Albedo but refused to pay the millions of dollars required to secure its release. Paying the ransom was beyond the means of the company, officials declared on various occasions. This reality meant the families of the captives had to locate a maritime attorney to help negotiate a feasible ransom. After paying $1.2 million to the pirates, families gained the release of seven crewmembers. This July 2012 release left an estimated 15 of the crew onboard, as one person died earlier.

Sinking

The final scene of this saga occurred almost a year later on July 7, 2013, when the Albedo sank after months of taking in seawater. Sources confirm the remains of four of the captives. Meanwhile, the European Union Naval Force and Maritime Patrol continues searching for survivors. The families surely want a conclusion to this whole affair. More than likely, a skillful maritime attorney will now sift through the evidence and paperwork to ascertain the culpability in these deaths. It is not certain just whose negligence contributed to this situation. This type of incident is why speaking with a maritime attorney is important.

Jul 29, 2013

Natural Gas Blowout

Injuries at sea are not uncommon, and there are many different ways in which these injuries can take place. Maritime law covers different scenarios and situations, all of which are important to highlight and understand what context it plays if such an event unfolds. While most maritime injuries involve boats and moving vessels, there are other issues that can arise on solid platforms and constructions, such as golf rigs. Such an event did just take place on the Gulf of Mexico when a natural gas blowout caused a serious fire and caused serious damage to the facility

Recent Natural Gas Blowout

The natural gas blowout occurred about 55 miles off of the shore of Louisiana and, although generally a manned location, nobody was actually on the big when the gas blowout occurred. What exactly caused the explosion is still not yet known, although local authorities were contacted and sent out in order to try and reduce the size of the blaze and get it under control, although due to the nature of the fire, with gas sitting on top of the water to burn, it did prove more challenging than a traditional fire on land.

Nobody Injured at Sea Currently

Nobody was injured during the explosion, although there are some risk of contaminated water and other issues arising inside around the show as the water with burned gasoline stats to make its way to shore. This situation is capable of harming hundreds, if not thousands of individuals who live along the cost, and if such an injury occurs, it is important to utilize a team of lawyers that has experience dealing with this kind of a situation or legal matter. While some lawyers are going to suggest they are able to handle any kind of injury, it is always best to go with someone who specializes in the kind of law. Maritime law covers any and all kinds of issues that took place at sea, and while someone might have become sick by being exposed to the contaminated water on the land, the situation took place on the water in the Gulf of Mexico and is classified as a maritime issue and constitutes injured at sea.

Jul 28, 2013

Grounded Boat: Pirate Queen Grounding

If you are injured during a boating accident or while in the water, it is important for you to utilize the assistance of a lawyer who is knowledgeable and capable of helping you out with this very specific kind of injury. While there are injury lawyers who say they can help you out, no matter your injury, you are in better hands if you opt into the services of a maritime accident injury lawyer. A maritime accident injury is anything that happens at sea, and this usually takes place while at sea and something happens on a boat, such as a cruise line, and you are injured during the process. There are different laws and rules when it comes to water based injuries, especially if you are in international waters. Due to this, you need someone who is able to assist you and has all of the knowledge available to them. The maritime accident injury lawyer is there to assist you every step of the way.

One of the most recent maritime accidents took place with the Pirate Queen Grounding. Sometimes, the accident is more than just an incident on a cruise line. With this, the Pirate Queen ended up coming in contact with the pier due to the leading lights not functioning properly on the Roonagh Pier. This ended up costing millions of dollars worth of damage, not to mention injuries to the crew. It is up to the Pier owners to keep everything up and running on it, and because they did not keep the lighting functioning properly, and this ended up leading to the incident. They need to be held accountable for the actions, as they did not maintain their necessary duties. It is not the captain or other individuals on the boat who are at fault, but instead the owners of the Roonagh Pier.

There are many different issues that occur with maritime law. All of this needs to be dealt with by someone who has experienced and knowledge regarding the kind of law, and this is why utilizing a maritime accident lawyer is the best bet.