Commercial Fishing Boat Safety and Maritime Law
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Maritime law is important when one works in commercial fishing. If you were hurt doing this dangerous job, a New Orleans maritime law attorney can help. Commercial fishing ranks among the most dangerous jobs in the world, specifically in the United States, where the Bureau of Labor Law consistently ranks it as the most lethal profession.
Adjusted to the size of the workforce, the 2008 fatality rate for U.S. fishermen was five times that of truck drivers, eight times that of police officers, and 19 times that of firefighters. Maritime law is very important for commercial fishermen and a New Orleans maritime law attorney can help protect fishermen rights.
Commercial fishing involves catching seafood such as fish, lobster, and shrimp for commercial profit, and is responsible for providing massive amounts of food to a number of countries around the world. Seafood is a much sought after commodity, so the possibility of reaping financial rewards lures many to the profession of commercial (or industrial) fishing.
Passenger ferries, cargo ships, and basically every other kind of commercial watercraft are held to higher regulation standards than fishing boats. Regulation standards can become confusing if one is pursuing a claim, so the help of a New Orleans maritime law attorney can be important.
In most cases, the only vessels that go inspected are the largest of factory-style ships. The U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 – the only federal law enacted to provide protection for commercial fishermen – has mandates that require the presence of certain safety equipment for the event of an accident; very few, if any, regulations exist that are aimed at preventing accidents from occurring in the first place.
This lack of regulatory oversight is a primary culprit for the unreasonably high death toll associated with commercial fishing. If you or a loved one suffered because of regulatory oversight, then you have the right to obtain the services of a New Orleans maritime law attorney.
Safety Features that Can Save Commercial Fishermen’s Lives
Quick-closing watertight doors can prevent floodwaters from spreading before the crew is alerted. Although some crewmembers may leave these doors open out of habit or negligence, wheelhouse alarms that notify officers of open watertight doors could act as a safety failsafe to prevent or at least help control flooding incidents.
Wireless sensors that clip on to the clothing or work gear and activate automatically when submerged in seawater can alert crewmembers that someone has fallen overboard. Some sensor models will even act as a kill switch, disabling a boat’s engine when they are submerged, which could save a solo sailor’s life should he be knocked overboard.
Finally, personal floatation devices (PFD, more commonly known as a life jacket) were not worn in any of the 155 man-overboard deaths in 2009. A PFD could easily be the difference between life and death if someone is knocked overboard. With a floatation device, most can survive for about an hour even in freezing waters, which is just enough time to be rescued should a sailor be knocked overboard while working on deck alone.
The combination of these modern safety features can increase the likelihood that sailors will survive deadly accidents that occur at sea, whether they include movie-worthy squalls or getting tangled in a net. If you survived but still sustained injury, you may want to consult with a New Orleans maritime law attorney.
Safety Recommendations for Anyone at Sea
To ward off some of the inherent dangers of spending time on the water, consider the following:
• Wear a life jacket;
• Buy a marine radio that can sync to your GPS and has an automatic mayday call button;
• Always, always file a float plan;
• Stay sober on the water..
Assistance from a New Orleans Maritime Law Attorney
If you or someone you know has been injured aboard a commercial fishing vessel due to operator negligence, crewmate error, or faulty equipment, reach out to a lawyer at the Young Firm and schedule a free consultation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Young Firm
At The Young Firm in New Orleans, our maritime and admiralty attorneys are dedicated to providing superior legal counsel to clients injured as a result of another party's reckless, careless or negligent conduct. We meticulously prepare each case and are committed to protecting the rights of the catastrophically injured. For more than 50 years, our attorneys have been focusing on the practice of maritime / admiralty law.
Copyright The Young Firm
More information about The Young Firm
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
Commercial fishing involves catching seafood such as fish, lobster, and shrimp for commercial profit, and is responsible for providing massive amounts of food to a number of countries around the world. Seafood is a much sought after commodity, so the possibility of reaping financial rewards lures many to the profession of commercial (or industrial) fishing.
Passenger ferries, cargo ships, and basically every other kind of commercial watercraft are held to higher regulation standards than fishing boats. Regulation standards can become confusing if one is pursuing a claim, so the help of a New Orleans maritime law attorney can be important.
In most cases, the only vessels that go inspected are the largest of factory-style ships. The U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 – the only federal law enacted to provide protection for commercial fishermen – has mandates that require the presence of certain safety equipment for the event of an accident; very few, if any, regulations exist that are aimed at preventing accidents from occurring in the first place.
This lack of regulatory oversight is a primary culprit for the unreasonably high death toll associated with commercial fishing. If you or a loved one suffered because of regulatory oversight, then you have the right to obtain the services of a New Orleans maritime law attorney.
Safety Features that Can Save Commercial Fishermen’s Lives
Quick-closing watertight doors can prevent floodwaters from spreading before the crew is alerted. Although some crewmembers may leave these doors open out of habit or negligence, wheelhouse alarms that notify officers of open watertight doors could act as a safety failsafe to prevent or at least help control flooding incidents.
Wireless sensors that clip on to the clothing or work gear and activate automatically when submerged in seawater can alert crewmembers that someone has fallen overboard. Some sensor models will even act as a kill switch, disabling a boat’s engine when they are submerged, which could save a solo sailor’s life should he be knocked overboard.
Finally, personal floatation devices (PFD, more commonly known as a life jacket) were not worn in any of the 155 man-overboard deaths in 2009. A PFD could easily be the difference between life and death if someone is knocked overboard. With a floatation device, most can survive for about an hour even in freezing waters, which is just enough time to be rescued should a sailor be knocked overboard while working on deck alone.
The combination of these modern safety features can increase the likelihood that sailors will survive deadly accidents that occur at sea, whether they include movie-worthy squalls or getting tangled in a net. If you survived but still sustained injury, you may want to consult with a New Orleans maritime law attorney.
Safety Recommendations for Anyone at Sea
To ward off some of the inherent dangers of spending time on the water, consider the following:
• Wear a life jacket;
• Buy a marine radio that can sync to your GPS and has an automatic mayday call button;
• Always, always file a float plan;
• Stay sober on the water..
Assistance from a New Orleans Maritime Law Attorney
If you or someone you know has been injured aboard a commercial fishing vessel due to operator negligence, crewmate error, or faulty equipment, reach out to a lawyer at the Young Firm and schedule a free consultation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Young Firm
At The Young Firm in New Orleans, our maritime and admiralty attorneys are dedicated to providing superior legal counsel to clients injured as a result of another party's reckless, careless or negligent conduct. We meticulously prepare each case and are committed to protecting the rights of the catastrophically injured. For more than 50 years, our attorneys have been focusing on the practice of maritime / admiralty law.
Copyright The Young Firm
More information about The Young Firm
View all articles published by The Young Firm
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
