East Naples woman injured by boat propeller requests new trial

Naples — A lawyer for an East Naples woman severely injured by a boat propeller a decade ago asked for a new trial Tuesday, citing repeated “shenanigans” and violations by defense attorneys that “poisoned the jury.”

Names of 3 rescued boaters released - One dead

FORT MYERS, Fla. - We have an update on last night's fatal boat accident. Fish and Wildlife tells us a 12-foot vessel was towing a 10-foot vessel in the Caloosahatchee River's choppy water. The operator of the first boat fell in the water after his seat broke. Another passenger fell in after attempting to take control of the boat. The operator ultimately drowned, and was recovered within 100 feet of the accident site at nearby Rat Island. Officials say the accident was alcohol-related.

Crowley Maritime Christens New ATB

Seafarers and SIU officials were on hand Oct. 26 in New Orleans to join in celebrating the christening of Crowley Maritime Corporation’s newest articulated tug-barge (ATB) tank vessel, consisting of the 135-foot tugboat Pride and the 587-foot barge 650-7.SIU New Orleans Port Agent Chris Westbrook and SIU Houston Port Agent Mike Russo attended the ceremony, which took place at Cruise Terminal Number 2.

Seafarers International Union (SIU) President's Report: Jobs Plan

This from the SIU President: December 2009 -- Current Issue Many Seafarers understand both the benefits and the responsibilities that go along with our union’s affiliations to groups like the AFL-CIO, the Maritime Trades Department and the International Transport Workers’ Federation. Belonging to those organizations (and others) helps boost our voice on key issues. It gives us important strength beyond our numbers. It also means we provide grassroots support whenever possible.

Coast Guard and tour boat collided in Charleston Harbor

Legal news for South Carolina personal injury attorneys. A small Coast Guard boat collided with a catamaran, injuring three people.Personal injury lawyers alert- A tour boat and a Coast Guard boat collision in Charleston Harbor injured three people. Charleston, SC—A small Coast Guard boat and a commercial catamaran collided in the Charleston Harbor, shortly after the annual Christmas Parade of Boats for unknown reason. The collision injured three people aboard the catamaran, which crashed around 8:30 p.m., as reported by The Post and Courier.

Acadien II victims launch lawsuit

The families of four sealers who died when their fishing boat sank near the Magdalen Islands in March 2008 have filed a $2.7-million lawsuit against the Canadian Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The two survivors of the sinking are also participating in the lawsuit. The 12-metre trawler L'Acadien II, from the Îles de la Madeleine, Que., was being towed by the Sir William Alexander in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on March 29, 2008, when the fishing boat hit an ice block and capsized off the coast of Cape Breton, N.S.

Piracy Driving Up Shipping Costs - Africa's Dangerous Waters

While almost all the attention on and, hence, resources for combating piracy in African waters have of late been focused almost exclusively on the waters off the Somali coastline (see my most recent report on the "Return of the Somali Pirates"), a bloody attack last week is a reminder that the Gulf of Guinea on the opposite side of Africa can be equally dangerous—if not more so—even if it does not grab headlines with spectacular heists like this week's capture of the Greek supertanker MV Maran Centaurus as it was transporting more than two million barrels of oil destined for the United States.

Family Sues Hundreds of Lake Shore Residents After Teen's Boating Death - Angel Diaz

MIAMI, Fla. -- There's no denying the 2007 tragedy. Fifteen-year-old Angel Diaz had been invited to go jet-skiing on E Lake in Florida's southwest Miami-Dade County. In broad daylight, Diaz crashed a SeaDoo and died. Was it a simple accident, or should someone be held responsible for the teenager's death? "The parents are now suing every single resident of E Lake," said Gene Kohly, who owns a home on the lake. That's correct. The lawsuit lists every homeowner who lives on the lake. It's five pages of names. All 202 people, it says, are responsible for Angel Diaz's death, except the homeowner who invited Angel to use the lake that day. He's not listed. "It is outrageous," Kohly said. "I was having a discussion with my neighbors and we all say, 'how can they sue us, what could we have done,' and I say, 'I don't know.' We just feel that we're being unfairly targeted for money."

UPDATED: Destin man arrested in boating accident that killed three

OKALOOSA ISLAND — A Destin man has been charged with boating under the influence manslaughter in connection to an accident Sept. 4 that killed an Alabama couple and one of their relatives from Texas. Click here to view a photo gallery of the two boats involved in the collision » Augusta Frederick Kennedy, 41, was arrested Wednesday on three counts of BUI manslaughter. He was also charged with boating under the influence, causing damage to property and five counts of violation of navigational rules resulting in an accident. -------------------------- Drinking and boating just don't mix. This kind of incident is far too common on Florida waters. Dwayne

Federal judge in Hawaii says lack of standing imperils Jones Act lawsuit

HONOLULU (AP) — A federal judge has cast doubt on the fate of a lawsuit that sought to bar enforcement of the Jones Act, a law that in part requires domestic shipping to be performed by vessels owned and flagged by the United States. The lawsuit was filed by John Carroll, a Honolulu lawyer who is running for the Republican nomination for governor next year. U.S. District Judge David Ezra said Monday that Carroll's plaintiffs appear to lack standing to sue. He says the lawsuit stated generalized grievances best resolved by Congress, not specific claims that the courts can adjudicate. Carroll argues the law is harmful to Hawaii because it results in higher prices for goods shipped into the state, and has caused some businesses to fold. Ezra says he will soon issue a ruling.

Family puzzled by Chesapeake Bay boating deaths

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Authorities are trying to determine the cause of a Chesapeake Bay boating accident that killed two Virginia men. John Bull, a spokesman for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, says the cause of the accident won't be known for days. He says the pair's 28-foot Boston Whaler had no mechanical or structural problems. Authorities say 83-year-old Chesapeake resident Jefferson Sykes and 75-year-old Portsmouth resident Allen Fuller were found dead in the water near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on Friday afternoon. Jeff Fuller says his father was cautious about risking bad weather. Since conditions were described as good at the time of the accident, Jeff Fuller says the accident is a mystery.

Ocean Isle parasailing fatalities spur stack full of lawsuits

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Lawsuits and other filings stemming from the death of two women parasailers Aug. 28 off Ocean Isle Beach are piling up at U.S. District Court in Wilmington, N.C., with two more plaintiffs seeking damages from the parasail business and the business claiming in another filing that the manufacturers of the parasail and tow rope should pay whatever may be awarded.

Pirates Attack Oil Tanker Off Benin - Seaman Killed on Ship

(RTTNews) - Pirates have attacked a Monrovia-flagged oil tanker off the coast of the West African country of Benin, killing one seaman, officials said Tuesday.According to Benin's naval forces, the attack on the 230-meter long Cancale Star took place some 18 nautical miles off the country's coast. The vessel's chief engineer, a Ukrainian, was killed in the attack, which also left four other crew members injured.

Walnut Creek man dies in boating accident

The San Mateo County coroner's office has identified the man who died when his sailboat overturned off Pillar Point Friday afternoon. Matthew Runte, 49, was pronounced dead at Seton Coastside Medical Center. Runte and another man were apparently sailing in 15- to 20-foot seas Friday when the boat overturned about 4:25 p.m. two miles offshore. One of the men was able to shoot a flare to alert authorities.

Coast Guard still probing death of tugboat crewman - Tugboat Marlin

The U.S. Coast Guard says it is still investigating a 4 p.m. Sunday incident in which a tugboat crewman died. The 52-year-old crewman from the tugboat Marlin was found aboard the vessel unconscious and unresponsive.

Hospital Releases Two People In Tugboat Explosion

ESCATAWPA, Mississippi - There's new information on an explosion aboard a tug boat that killed two people. It happened Friday afternoon at the VT Halter ship terminal in Esctawpa, Mississippi along the Pascagoula River.Four people were hurt. Company officials are not releasing names, but a friend of one of the injured identifies him as Robert Nettles of Grand Bay. He was being transferred from Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula to USA Medical Center in Mobile, where another victim was taken by LifeFlight earlier in the afternoon. Company officials said the explosion happened aboard a tugboat. William Skinner, the Chief Executive Officer of VT Halter Marine, said, "They were cleaning a tank, getting it prepared to be painted." The family spoke out here.

Boating accident leaves dredging contractor dead

Boating accident leaves dredging contractor dead New Jersey contractor drowns when boat flips after going over a dam By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 GANSEVOORT – State Police are investigating a boating accident on the Hudson River that led to the death of a contractor working for General Electric as part of the Hudson River dredging project. Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=867206&category=REGION#ixzz0YHC1LwU5

Monica Burguera Foundation

In 2006 we blogged on a terrible boating accident in Miami. Some young people including Monica Burguera were killed and others injured. Recently we saw visits to our site regarding Ms. Burguera and wondered why. The activity is apparently because her family and friends have started a a non-profit organization, in order to educate boaters and help create awareness of the importance of boaters’ safety education. Here at Clark & Watson we consider ourselves boating safety advocates. This is a good thing and we encourage you to look at their foundation site found here.

Boating Death Called Freak Accident

BILOXI — A shortcut cost boater Kevin Michael Reed his life.Reed, 24, was at home on the water. His father had taught him to pilot a boat, his friends say, when he was a small boy. He loved to fish from his 21-foot boat, a Kenner with an open console and T-top. He took it out almost every weekend. On Sunday he took four friends to Horn Island, where they grilled. Reed’s best friend, B.J. Rogers, said they headed back early. They planned to go kneeboarding on the Tchoutacabouffa River.

Son ( Bill Brenner ) mourns Mobile couple killed in boating accident Friday night -

The president of Mobile's Southern Earth Sciences Inc. was being consoled Sunday in the aftermath of a Florida boating collision that killed his parents and aunt Friday night, a work colleague said. Friends, family and company employees were visiting William "Bill" Brenner at his Daphne home, according to Penny Hatcher, the engineering company's public relations and marketing director. Killed in the accident were George and Donna Brenner, and Jeane Srowson. They were boating with Bill Brenner on Choctawhatchee Bay near Okaloosa Island when the collision occurred about 7:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said. See this article also.

Attorneys ask to suppress evidence from fatal boat accident

SIOUX CITY -- Attorneys for a Jackson, Neb., man accused of being drunk behind the wheel during a fatal boating accident have asked a judge to keep test results, evidence and statements out of court. Stan Munger and Colby Lessman, attorneys for Samuel Gomez, recently filed court documents asking a the evidence be suppressed because police didn't have probable cause to arrest their client. Gomez, 32, was arrested after a June 27 boating accident on the Missouri River near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. Bruce Wright, of South Sioux City, was killed and South Sioux City Councilman Oscar Gomez was injured when they boat fell overboard.

New details released in Ocean Isle Beach parasailing accident

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. | Two women who died in a parasail accident off Ocean Isle Beach Friday died of blunt trauma, not drowning, an N.C. medical examiner said this afternoon. Dr. William Kelly, regional pathologist for the N.C. Medical Examiner's office in Jacksonville, N.C., said the women may have died when they first hit the water, when they hit the parasail tow boat that was trying to rescue them or when their parasail became entangled in the Ocean Isle Beach pier. One of the women, Cynthia Woodcock, 60, of Kernersville, N.C., was to be memorialized at a service today in nearby High Point, N.C., and buried Wednesday in Lenoir, N.C., her hometown.

Police officer dies in single-vessel accident near Hammocks Beach

A police officer from New York died in a single-vessel accident Saturday near Hammocks Beach.Officer Michael Nemes, 37, with the Southampton Town Police Department in New York was on vacation with his family in Onslow County, according to a press release from the Southampton Town Police Department.

Lone Survivor of Florida Boat Accident Opens Up

Months after a fateful fishing trip that took the lives of three football-player friends, Nick Schuyler is ready to talk about his ordeal. Schuyler was the only survivor, found clinging to a capsized boat nearly 48 hours after the men set out on a fishing trip to the Gulf.

Boating Accidents Jacksonville Florida

There has been a rash of boating accidents and water related deaths in Jacksonville lately.

Teen Drowns in Trout River; One Man Missing in Julington Creek

A 16-year-old's body was pulled from the Trout River late Sunday night, ending the search for teen who fell into the water while fishing near Main Street. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has identified the teenager as Ladre McNeal of Jacksonville. Rescue crews have also called off a separate search for a man who fell off a small boat in Julington Creek. Police say that man is 29 year old Shane Wiggins of Jacksonville.The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff's Office rushed to the Trout River near Main Street around 4:30 Sunday afternoon after reports the teen fell in the water trying to retrieve a bait box near rocks and never surfaced. Dive teams found McNeal's body before 10 p.m. and said the drowning is still under investigation. Around 5 p.m. another possible drowning sent teams from the Coast Guard, Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, Clay County Sheriff's Office and St. Johns County Sheriff's Office to Julington Creek near the St. Johns County line. Bujeda says a man and woman were fishing in a small boat when the man fell off the boat and never came up from the water.

Navigation For Dummies

This article references a youtube video. Comment if you like on any navigational errors you think the zodiac operator made. Dwayne

One killed, 2 injured after boat strikes bridge - Jacksonville Florida Boating Accident Lawyers

FREEPORT — Recovery teams discovered the body of a missing man in Choctawhatchee Bay on Monday evening, five hours after he and two others were ejected from a boat that struck the U.S. 331 bridge.The body of Freeport resident William Andrew Moraga, 71, was found at around 6:30 p.m. about 30 yards from the crash, which also injured two others onboard — a man and a 15-year-old girl. The man identified as 73-year-old Harry Lairy Jr., and the 15-year-old is Moraga's granddaughter, Angelica Morales, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Stan Kirkland.

Boat Owner Alleges Ethanol Damage In Lawsuit

SEBRING - A Highlands County man has sued five of the nation's biggest oil companies, alleging one sold 10 percent ethanol fuel that damaged his boat's engine.Erick Kelecseny contacted the Fort Lauderdale personal injury law firm Kopelowitz Ostrow, who filed suit Aug. 12 in U.S. District Court. They allege that Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP America, Shell and ConocoPhillips know about the problems ethanol causes to causes boats, but continue to market blended gasoline to the marine industry. Kelecseny seeks punitive damages and class-action status to include all Florida boat owners whose vessels were damaged by the blended gas. According to an April 9 story carried on Dow Jones newswires, another federal class action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles has charged ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell and other oil companies are selling ethanol blended gasoline that damages marine fuel tanks, engines and other components.

Dixie Co. teacher Charles David Sheppard was killed in boating accident when struck by Ocalan's pontoon boat

Additional information was released Monday morning by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about the scalloping death of a popular Dixie County teacher on Friday afternoon. Charles David Sheppard FWC is the agency leading the investigation into Friday's death of Charles David Sheppard, 60, of Cross City. Sheppard was pronounced dead shortly after apparently being cut by the propellor of an outboard motor on a pontoon boat carrying six adults and six children from Ocala. An autopsy is expected to be performed today at the medical examiner's office in Jacksonville to determine the exact cause of Sheppard's death.

Fishing Vessel Yvonne Sinking - Off Jacksonville Florida

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two people from a sinking fishing boat off the coast of Jacksonville early this morning. The 66-foot fishing boat Yvonne was about 3 miles offshore when the Coast Guard received a distress call about 2 a.m. from the vessel and launched a rescue boat from Mayport, officials said. The crew of a Good Samaritan vessel, the Shenandoah, also went to the scene of the sinking vessel and assisted the Coast Guard, officials said. A Coast Guard spokesman said the medical condition of the two people rescued apparently was not “of a serious nature” but they were to be evaluated by medical personnel.

Boating Accident Brunswick Georgia Leave 1 dead others injured

BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- One person was killed and two others had to be rescued when a boat ran into the jetties on Jekyll Creek. Coast Guard officials said a 23-foot pleasure craft struck the rocks near where the creek meets the ocean south of Brunswick early Sunday morning. The names of those involved were not released pending notification of next of kin. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of death. The Coast Guard received a mayday call from the boat at about 4:15 a.m. Sunday. A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Brunswick crew found two people in the water, one of whom was later pronounced dead. A third boater who had been clinging to the damaged boat was rescued by a good Samaritan the accident.Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ferrin says JaxPort needs $1.4 billion for construction, dredging

Call it the Better Jacksonville Port Plan. In a speech Thursday to the Propeller Club, Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin said the port will need about $1.4 billion for construction and dredging between now and 2015 so it can climb into the top tier of ports on the East Coast.

Slow response to boating accident angers witness

By JOHN BRANNON Messenger Staff Reporter Linda Jones of Union City expressed outrage about a perceived slow response by emergency agencies to a fatal boating accident on Kentucky Lake Thursday afternoon. “We desperately needed help. People were still in the water,” she said. A bass boat that Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency investigators estimate was traveling at least 40 miles per hour slammed into a pontoon boat about 5:50 p.m. Thursday. Fatality Killed in the accident was former Martin resident San-dra Renae Adams, 47, of Mur-freesboro. Mrs. Adams’ daughter, Megan, 16, was seriously injured and ultimately airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville for treatment. Her status at press time is undetermined. On the pontoon boat were seven members of the Adams family — Megan and Mrs. Adams; her husband, Jeffery; their son and daughter-in-law, names not available; and two boys, ages 11 and 9, names not available.

Boat bursts into flames; 2 hurt

Two Georgia men were hospitalized Friday after their boat burst into flames on the Nassau River.Spokesman Frank Elkins of Nassau County Fire Rescue said the Brunswick, Ga., pair were piloting a 30-foot-long craft to Cocoa Beach when it caught fire shortly before noon near the Thomas Shave Bridge on Florida A1A. Elkins said witnesses estimated the flames shot up almost 10 feet high. Investigators haven't determined what ignited the blaze, and Elkins declined to identify the men. Both were taken to Shands Jacksonville. Elkins said one of the men was later transported to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville and treated for burns. The other man was kept overnight at Shands Jacksonville for observation.

'Buckle up' when on a boat this Fourth of July weekend

Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Hulme uses a car analogy when encouraging boaters to wear a life preserver. "Do you put on your set belt right before an accident?" Hulme asks. "Mother Nature can be tough. It's always best to wear a life jacket." The Coast Guard, as well as Florida Fish and Wildlife, will be out in force this weekend patrolling the waterways as people celebrate the Fourth of July.

Coast Guard joins effort to crack down on drunken boaters in Keys

KEY WEST - The Coast Guard will be teaming up with state and Monroe County officials in the Florida Keys to make sure boaters don't overdo it on the water this weekend. The effort is called Operation Dry Water, and it's designed to highlight the dangers of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Boating under the influence is illegal in all 50 states and territories. Impaired boaters can expect fines and possible arrest.

Boat accident trial: Engineer describes how propeller gutted woman

UPDATE: The Plaintiff lost this trial. See this news story.

NAPLES — A biomechanical engineer told a Collier Circuit jury on Monday that he couldn’t understand the boating industry’s reluctance to equip boats with an inexpensive propeller ring guard that would prevent injuries and save lives. Lawrence Thibault, who owns Biomechanics Inc., a Pennsylvania consulting firm that studies injury biomechanics, told jurors how lap seat belts prompted a series of changes that improved safety in the auto industry, leading to harness belts, padded dashboards, air bags, side air bags, curtain air bags, and other changes. “But there’s no movement in the marine industry to put an emphasis on safety,” Thibault testified during questioning by Kevin Liles of Texas, one of five attorneys representing 64-year-old Audrey Decker of East Naples, who lost her left eye, part of a breast, and suffered other serious injuries when she fell overboard in 1999 and was cut by her boat’s propeller.

Horizon Lines settles class action with $20m payment

HORIZON Lines has agreed to pay $20m and freeze freight rates in its Puerto Rico trade lane for two years to settle a class action lawsuit brought by disgruntled customers. New York-listed Horizon Lines has also agreed to pay its lenders 1.5% higher interest and a one-off sum of $1.8m in consideration for being allowed to exclude this expenditure from calculations that determine its compliance with covenants

Leading boating danger on Intracoastal Waterway: careless boating

PALM VALLEY- Careless boating is the leading infraction that boaters commit on the Palm Valley Intracoastal Waterway and it has sure taken its toll this year, a state official said this week. As of late May, three boating accidents have been reported on the waterway, compared to none as of this time last year, said Lt. Steve Zukowsky with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Coast Guard searches for Missing Teen on Cruise Ship - Bruce O'Krepki

TAMPA - The Coast Guard searched the Gulf of Mexico by boat and from the air for a second day Tuesday for an 18-year-old from Louisiana who fell overboard during a cruise to celebrate his high school graduation. The Coast Guard said Bruce O'Krepki went over the rails of the Carnival Fantasy on Sunday night about 150 miles southwest of Tampa. A Coast Guard cutter and two aircraft searched for him Tuesday, Petty Officer Rob Simpson said. O'Krepki graduated with honors from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond, La., where he ran track and played soccer. He was with about 30 classmates and members of their families on the ship. His uncle Rick O'Krepki said the teen's parents were among the chaperones.

Coast Guard: Be Safe on the Water for Memorial Day

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The U.S. Coast Guard wants to remind everyone on the water to be safe this holiday weekend.In recent weeks, there have been several boat crashes in the area, most notably on Easter Sunday where five people died on the intracoastal. Also, this week's nor'easter has created the potential for dangerous rip currents and unpredictable water conditions. Boaters need to prepare accordingly

Boat Hits Barge near Houma Louisiana - 5 killed

HOUMA, La. -- Five people were killed Thursday morning when their boat hit a barge on the Falgout Canal in Terrebonne Parish, the Coast Guard said.Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Thomas Gresham said a recreational boat reportedly hit a barge that was being used as a platform for repairs on a structure. The accident happened Thursday morning on the Falgout Canal between Theriot and Dulac. Falgout Canal connects the Houma Ship Channel to Lake DeCade. Captain Bill Lake of Bayou Guide Service said it's always a busy area, and the Cocodrie-Dularge area is busier than usual because many people are scouting fish for a rodeo that begins at midnight.

Pine Key Boat Explosion - "Bodies All Over the Beach"

PINE KEY - FOX 13 has obtained new photos of a boat explosion just moments after it happened. Tammy Connolly was visiting Pine Key, also known as Beer Can Island, with her husband and a few friends when the boat blew up.“We were on the opposite side of the island when the boat exploded,” she said. “We weren’t there five minutes when we heard this huge explosion. It sounded like a cannon at Gasparilla.” That’s when Connolly grabbed her camera and started taking pictures. “I was hesitant to go over there at first because it was scary,” she said. “There were bodies all over the beach.”

Lady Mary Video

Underwater footage of fishing boat Lady Mary The Coast Guard working with the New Jersey State Police verified the position of the fishing boat Lady Mary, which sank southeast of Cape May on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, with the use of a remotely operated vehicle. The external survey by the ROV shows the Lady Mary generally sitting upright on the bottom. The survey did not reveal any evidence of the remaining missing crew members. (Video provided by the US Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police) Uploaded by ssiditsk on 05/06/09

Lady Mary Sinking - Coast Guard Hearing

Error in recording emerg radio (epirb) hurt search Vessel monitoring system programmer: 2 dozen boats near Lady Mary did not aid sinking vessel.Two dozen boats were in the general area of a stricken scalloping vessel when it sank off Cape May in March, but none came to its aid or joined a later search for survivors, a U.S. fisheries representative told a Coast Guard inquest board today. Testimony: Two boats passed near sinking trawler

CAPE MAY, N.J. - For two to three hours after a scallop boat is believed to have sunk off Cape May, the Coast Guard heard no mayday calls or any other radio reports that something was wrong. That was the testimony Monday from two Coast Guard officers as the agency resumed its hearing into the sinking of the Lady Mary, which went down off Cape May on March 24. Only one the seven crew members survived. The lapse in time from when the boat is believed to have sunk, and when the Coast Guard first heard something was wrong continued to be a main focus of the inquiry. The hearing was suspended in April to allow the ship's captain to hire a lawyer. A Coast Guard inspector says the Lady Mary passed a safety inspection last July. In another article it was said: Two crew members of the doomed scallop boat that sank off the coast last month may have been under the influence of marijuana when the ship went down, killing six of the seven crew members aboard, a witness in the hearing of the fatal sinking testified this morning. Timothy Smith, who died in the sinking, had high levels of the components of marijuana in the blood samples analyzed after the March 24 sinking, said Anthony Costantino, president and CEO of Drug Scan, the Pennsylvania lab hired by the U.S. Coast Guard to analyze the results of the blood tests. Another story goes on: A scallop boat that sank off the coast of Cape May may have tangled its fishing gear with another ship or an obstruction on the bottom of the ocean, the attorney for the ship's owner said yesterday. A cutter with a ROV was used to look at the vessel.

This article indicates that that Owner of the Lady Mary was critical of the Coast Guard Response.

4 men injured (Matthew Dunn, 20, Charles Flores, 19, Michael Morris, 19, Niralkumar Patel, 19, Ocala,) in Boating Accident

Three young Volusia County men and a friend were injured in a boat accident on George's Lake in Putnam County after running into a dock, authorities said.Matthew Dunn, 20, and Charles Flores, 19, both of Ormond Beach; Michael Morris, 19, Daytona Beach; and Niralkumar Patel, 19, Ocala, were taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville after the accident late Saturday night, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report. Only Dunn was listed at the hospital Monday, and he was in fair condition, hospital officials said. The extent of the other men's injuries was not available. The 19-foot ski boat the men were in ran under the end of a dock on the lake behind a home in the Florahome community, the report states. The accident is still under investigation, wildlife commission spokeswoman Joy Hill said Monday.

Man Is Convicted In Friend's Boating Death - BUI

LARGO | Matthew Aime lost one of his best friends in a boating accident on the night of Nov. 17, 2005. Last week, a jury decided the crash was Aime's fault, finding him guilty of boating under the influence manslaughter and reckless operation of a vessel. Jurors took nearly three hours Thursday to determine Aime, of Tarpon Springs, was drunk when he ran his 14-foot aluminum boat into a dock on the Anclote River, killing 50-year-old Robin Raihan.

Jacksonville, Florida Boat Accident Still Being Investigated

This article indicates that the investigation into the fatal Jacksonville boating accident is still under investigation. This case will likely be under investigation for years by governmental agencies and in discovery in the lawsuits. There has been a lot of comment and judging of the facts in the press and on the blogs. It is hard to piece one of these together only based on what one reads or hears in the press and blogs. The facts and conclusions will come out over time with diligent investigation. Dwayne

Maersk Alabama Crew Member Files Lawsuit Against Ship Owner - Legal principles behind the claim

From the gcaptain:,

Today, in the 270th Judicial District Court in Houston, Harris County, Texas a lawsuit (case 2009-26129) was filed on behalf of Mr. Richard Hicks, a steward on board the Maersk Alabama. The suit alleges that Maesrk was negligent and that the Maersk Alabama was “unseaworthy” as that term is defined by federal maritime law. If you practice maritime law, you knew this was inevitable. We all know the facts as Captain Phillips’ plight was plastered over our televisions over Easter weekend and we all prayed for his safe return. However, it is not Captain Phillips who is suing Maersk. It is, instead, another crewmember who was on board the Maersk.

Clay County updates county’s ordinances regarding boating safety

From the Clay County Sheriff's Office: ATTENTION BOATERS!Clay County has updated and made corrections to the county’s ordinances regarding boating safety. The following is a list of the changes that you, as a boater need to be aware of. These changes will take effect on 12-13-2009 or when posted (as appropriate).

Defense Base Act for the those Suffering Serious Personal Injury

This is a blog post on the Defense Base Act. The Blog has many good articles on the DBA. If you have been injured in Iraq or Afghanistan we can get you assistance on the Defense Base Act. Call us at Clark & Watson for a free consultation.

Jones Act Article

Here is a short blog post on the Jones Act.

This firm like ours at Clark & Watson specializes in Jones Act cases. We have spent our entire careers learning the law and how to protect the rights of seamen who work on tugs, ships and other craft, on the water.

Dwayne Clark and Kristen Watson

How Crowded is Too Crowded on a Boat?? The Answer may not be as Clear as You Think??

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL -- Pleasure boats have a Coast Guard plate mounted near the helm listing the maximum weight and the maximum number of people that can safely be on board. But the operator of the Jacksonville Boat Club says that information can be misleading. "They have a safety label and a tag on each and every one of the boats, and it's rated for weight," said Ryan Walker. "There is a capacity on there, but it's based on a 120-to-140 pound person. And as you know, most people getting on the boats are a little heavier than that, unless they have kids, and that kind of stuff." Walker demonstrated that point with thirteen adults and one infant boarding a boat similar to the one that had fourteen aboard when it crashed in Palm Valley, killing five people. "The legal capacity of the boat sometimes far exceeds what's common sense-wise," said Walker, pointing out the demonstration of fourteen people on his 23-foot boat.

Re-posted by Jacksonville Florida Maritime Lawyers / Clark & Watson PA

Mix of alcohol, boating is a concern in Jacksonville area

Lt. John Convoy looked outside Friday morning and saw a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky."That means it's going to be a busy weekend for us," said Convoy, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer who would be patrolling Jacksonville's waterways this weekend. With the weather warming and many sunny weekends ahead, Fish and Wildlife will be busy looking for boaters who are driving while intoxicated. The issue gained attention on Easter when a 22-foot boat crashed into an Intracoastal Waterway construction site. Five people were killed and nine were injured. The attorney representing three of the victims said the driver of the vessel, who was killed, wasn't intoxicated but alcohol was found on the boat.

Reposted by Jacksonville Florida Maritime Lawyers / Clark & Watson PA

Palm Valley Jacksonville Boating Accident Faults Design of Boat

Here is the Times Union - Jacksonville.com story on the suit that has been filed against the boat manufacturer in this boating accident. This is another article about the design defect case that has been filed in Federal Court. Dwayne

Robert Trenton Craig - Jacksonville Boating Accident Victim Remembered

Robert Trenton Craig, who died Sunday in a Florida boating accident, enjoyed surfing, skiing and seeing the world.

Palm Valley Boating Accident - 1/3 of all boating accidents in Florida are boats hitting docks

A state official in charge of managing the Intracoastal Waterway reiterated this week that docks in Palm Valley extend too far toward the center of the channel, hampering boaters in an area where five people were killed when their powerboat slammed into a tugboat moored at a dock. Also, the straightness of the 8-mile stretch of waterway through Palm Valley encourages some boaters to go too fast, officials said... About a third of Florida boating accidents in 2007 involved boats hitting docks and other stationary objects. In its latest annual report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said 109 accidents involved fixed objects compared to 194 in which boats or other vessels collided with each other. ---------------------------------------------- When a boat strikes a stationary object it is called an allision not a collision under the maritime law. The law and legal liabilities of the potential parties are different than when there is a collision between two vessels. Dwayne

Boat's driver not intoxicated, lawyer says

Some of the passengers might have been drinking, but the person at the wheel of a 22-foot boat that crashed into an Intracoastal Waterway construction site Sunday wasn't intoxicated, an attorney representing three of the victims said Friday. A statement from the Medical Examiner's Office seems to back up the claim. Five people were killed and nine injured in the 7:15 p.m. wreck about a mile north of the Palm Valley Bridge. It started off as a Sunday cruise to St. Augustine. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard continued their joint investigation Friday into what caused the boat to veer into a 25-foot tugboat.

Women injured in Florida boat crash remain hospitalized

By MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Published: Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. Two Santa Rosa women injured in a Florida boating accident remained hospitalize Thursday at Shands Jacksonville hospital in Jacksonville, a spokeswoman said.Related Links: 3 Santa Rosa women still hospitalized in deadly Florida boat crash 2 Santa Rosans among 5 dead in Florida boat crash Alcohol use, speed investigated in criminal probe of crash External Links: Facebook memorial to crash victims Amanda Bartson, 22, was in good condition, the spokeswoman said, while Jaime Hole, also 22, was said to be in fair condition.

Family, friends mourn the dead in Sunday's boating accident in Intracoastal waterway at Palm Valley

PALM VALLEY — Mourners from coast to coast will awaken Tuesday morning with an emptiness caused by an explosion of fiberglass and metal that left bodies broken on an otherwise peaceful Intracoastal Waterway. Federal and state investigators said they expect to spend a week or more piecing through wreckage and witness accounts to determine the cause of Sunday’s boating accident that left five people dead and nine injured. Investigators will try to determine if alcohol, speed or excessive weight were possible factors when the overcrowded 22-foot Crownline pleasure boat slammed into a moored 25-foot tugboat, authorities said. The empty tug and a barge were in place to help build a dock for a home under construction on Roscoe Boulevard South.

State agency to probe fatal Jacksonville Intracoastal Florida boating accident - Posted by Jacksonville Boating Accident Lawyers

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Florida Law enforcement officials said Monday they had launched an investigation into a tragic boating accident near St. Augustine, Florida, that took the lives of five people and seriously injured seven others.

According to FWC investigators, a 22-foot boat with 12 people on board rammed into the rear and right side of a 25-foot tugboat. "We are still investigating and haven't come to any conclusions yet," said Carol Pratt, spokeswoman for FWC. She said they still do not know who was driving the boat. They also are waiting for victims' next of kin to be notified before releasing any of their names and ages.

St Johns County Intracoastal Waterway Boating Accident Leave 5 dead and nine injured - Boat / Tug Posted by Jacksonville Florida Maritime Lawyers

This is a report of a boating accident where a pleasure boat struck a tug and/or barge in the intracoastal waterway. The title to this post links to the Florida Times Union. The Times Union article raises many possible issues including potential overloading, speed, lookout, alcohol consumption, and others. The facts are rarely clear in the beginning of an investigation like this. The reporters, victims and even authorities have a hard time sorting out the actual facts. There could be questions of where and how the tug and barge were moored and whether they were in the proper and safe place under the rules of navigation. Also, this report raises lighting issues although some reports say it happened before dark. In many of these cases issues also arise as to the proper placement and permitting of docks under construction. More and complete facts should come clear as the investigation proceeds. Dwayne Clark

St Johns County Intracoastal Waterway Boating Accident Leave 5 dead and nine injured - Posted by Jacksonville Florida Maritime Lawyers

This was a terrible accident where a boat apparently struck a tug in the intracoastal.

Maersk Alabama - Pentagon: U.S. crew in control of hijacked ship but Captain may be hostage

The whole world probably knows by now that the Captain was rescued by the Navy. Looks like the Navy and Navy Seals did a good job on the rescue.

NAIROBI, Kenya - Pentagon officials said Wednesday that the American crew of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship had retaken control from Somali pirates who hijacked the vessel far off the Horn of Africa. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because information was still preliminary. But they said the hijacked crew had apparently contacted the private company that operates the ship. NBC News reported that none of the American citizens were injured. See this article also. And this follow-up. This report suggests the Captain remains a hostage.

Key Elements of Yacht Insurance, Q&A - Jones Act and Longshoreman Suits

Accidents happen. That comes as no surprise to those in the insurance industry, but what may be a surprise is the fact that the majority of maritime accidents occur in good weather with perfect visibility. In the following Q&A, Joseph McNulty, founding member of Carroll McNulty & Kull, joins Richard Furman and John Orzel, members of the same law firm, in a discussion on the key elements of marine insurance and what underwriters and claims professionals need to know about federal laws governing the maritime industry.

Report details events in missing boaters' accident- Jacksonville Florida Boating Accident Lawyers

TAMPA -- A state report on the Feb. 28 boating accident that claimed the lives of former two NFL players and a former University of South Florida player sheds more light on the cause and the fate of the men who died.

DNR inquiry of boating accident under way - infant injured

An infant remained in critical condition Friday as authorities continued to investigate what caused the deadly Georgetown County boating accident that injured the child and killed three others in the Waccamaw River.

Memorial Service Today For Missing Boater

A memorial service for a former University of South Florida football player lost during a boating accident in the Gulf last weekend will be held in Crystal River today. Family and friends will gather to remember Will Bleakley at 3 p.m. at Crystal River United Methodist Church.

Don Girvan - When the Knock Came He Was Ready - Shands Bridge Accident - Semper Paratus

When I was in the Coast Guard our motto (the Coast Guard motto) was Semper Paratus. It is latin for Always Prepared or Always Ready. We found in the Coast Guard that preparation often makes the difference when minutes and seconds count. On February 18, 2009 it did. This is not a story about the Coast Guard it is a story about some public servants and an ordinary citizen who was ready. Don Girvan was working in his home office when he heard a heavy pounding on his front door. It was two Clay County Sheriff's deputies. There had been an accident near the Shands Bridge near his home. People needed help. He volunteered his boat and he and the deputies motored to the site of the accident to render aid. This is the story as reported by the St.Augustine Record. Mr. Girvan had just serviced his boat the week before. He was ready. He guided his boat to two floating victims. They pulled a woman from the water and Girvan reported "I don't think she would have lasted five minutes longer". That's how stories end when people think fast and are prepared. We all should be grateful for people like Don Girvan and our deputies who always stand ready. Semper Paratus gang. Dwayne Clark

Victims of boat accident under Shands Bridge ID'd - Benjamin F. Heyward

A subcontractor who died when his safety boat capsized under the Shands Bridge Wednesday has been identified as Benjamin F. Heyward, 61, of Jacksonville. A co-worker who suffered minor injuries in the accident has been identified as Lakia L. Kiser, 33, of Jacksonville. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the 11:30 a.m. accident on the St. Johns River at the border of Clay and St. Johns counties, said Karen Parker, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Heyward and Kiser were in an 18-foot Capecraft monitoring an inspection being done by a Florida Department of Transportation crew hanging from baskets under the bridge. The boat began to take on water and capsized, sending the pair into the river. Someone from the work crew tossed life vests into the river and Kiser was able to grab one. A man on the crew jumped into the river and grabbed Heyward, who was unconscious. Another person on the work crew deployed a life raft and a third crewman jumped into the raft and pulled Kiser to safety. Heyward was pronounced dead at the scene. This is the FWC report. The subcontractors worked for Acme Barricades, Parker said.

See this also.

2 Arizona men killed, 4 saved after Virginia boat accident

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- Police say the two people killed in a Chesapeake Bay boating accident today have been identified as Arizona residents. Virginia Beach police spokesman Adam Bernstein says 89-year-old Ned Rokey and 69-year-old Allen Dedrick died after Rokey's 18-foot-aluminum boat capsized in cold, choppy water off Virginia Beach.

Last body in Quang Binh boat accident found

Boating safety is very different in other parts of the world. Witnesses had earlier said about 80 passengers were on board at the time of the accident. Some officials have said the boat’s capacity was about 12 people.

32-foot boat sinks at the 'Eagle' - www.lawboat.com - jacksonville florida maritime lawyers

The Eagle shipwreck off Islamorada had company drop in this week: A private sportfishing boat took on water and sank quickly while tied to a mooring ball at the popular diving site Monday. Three women and two dogs were on the boat when it went down. All were rescued by nearby boaters.

Maritime Law and The Jones Act re-posted by Jacksonville Florida Maritime Lawyers

Article by domanconsulting (513 pts ) Published on Dec 27, 2008 This article explores the doctrines and principles proclaimed by the Jones Act and the impact that this act has upon the maritime community.

Candlewood Lake boating accident victims to sue

The Candlewood Lake Authority and the five towns surrounding the lake are guilty of "willful, wanton and reckless disregard for safety" on the lake, said the attorney representing the estate of Jason Wanat of Redding, who died in a boating accident in July.

See also, this on the story.