Fishing Vessel Onega Sinks with 19 Crew on Board

by | Dec 28, 2020 | Maritime Law

The Russian fishing vessel Onega sank while in the Barents Sea on December 28, 2020.  Reports indicate the vessel experienced icing which resulted in its sinking.  At the time, there were 19 crew on board, of which 17 remain missing.  The vessel is owned and operated by Russia’s Variant Fishing Co.  Search and rescue operations are under way in an attempt to locate and rescue the missing mariners.

The tragic incident occurs less than two weeks after the cargo ship Xin Hong capsized off the coast of Vietnam on December 17, 2020, with 15 sailors on board.

A vessel capsizing can be the result of many factors, including: human error, weather conditions, equipment failure, poor maintenance practices or a lack of equipment.  A capsized boat can often be a result of a combination of the above factors.  The unfortunate reality is that many maritime companies cut corners, which puts the lives of their workers and the general public at risk on a daily basis.  Safe boat owners and operators must have adequate procedures in place to govern the work performed by the crew to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

Our experienced lawyers handle maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation of all kinds and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. The lawyers of Spagnoletti Law Firm have handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country.  Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime injury and death cases involving vessel collisions.

The experienced and aggressive vessel accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of this tragic accident. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your rights.