There was an incident involving the general cargo ship CREST CRANE on November 5, 2022. At the time, the vessel was at Keelung Port, Taiwan. A pilot was attempting the board the vessel via a pilot ladder. The pilot ladder broke and the pilot fell into the water near the ship. Luckily, the pilot was able to be rescued and was taken to a hospital for care.
There have been a number of recent incidents involving vessels. A fire broke out in the engine room on the sport fishing boat the REAL PAIN II on October 30, 2022. There was a deadly fire on the cargo ship AZOV CONFIDENCE on November 2, 2022. The container ship SUNTUDSAMUT 4 sank off the coast of Thailand on November 3, 2022. A vessel captain has relinquished his captain’s license after allegations of sexual assault on board the bulker ship LIBERTY GLORY. There was a deadly accident on board the open hatch cargo ship ARUBA PEARL on October 26, 2022. A recreational boat capsized near Charleston, South Carolina on November 3, 2022.
It can be dangerous to work in any industry when safety considerations are not taken seriously. This is especially so when working on a large ship. Safe maritime companies must perform regular maintenance and inspections in order to ensure the safety of their crew members, but also pilots who may be boarding the vessel. When ship operators fail to conduct regular maintenance and inspection of the equipment on their vessels, dangerous incidents can result. This not only puts the lives of hardworking seaman at risk, but can also endanger pilots who are required to board the vessel.
Many risks exists for pilots who are boarding a vessel. Falls overboard when a pilot attempts to board a vessel are a regular hazard in the industry, which companies must attempt to eliminate. Hazards can include:
- Defects in the boarding ladder;
- Dangerous weather conditions;
- Poor rigging of the boarding ladder;
- Failure to follow safety procedures.
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 including those involving capsized vessels.
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 a maritime disaster. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to maritime injuries, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your rights.