SAFETY ALERT: Reassess towing, salvage risks - Professional Mariner - Web Bulletin 2018

SAFETY ALERT: Reassess towing, salvage risks - Professional Mariner - Web Bulletin 2018

8-year-old Pennsylvania girl killed in Putnam boating accident

An 8-year-old at a family reunion in Putnam County was killed Friday when the boat she was in lurched under a dock while she was sitting in a seat in the front of the boat. At the end of a St. Johns River boat ride around 6 p.m., the driver missed an attempt to maneuver onto a boat lift then on a second approach the 23-foot bowrider lurched ahead and under the dock. Olivia Wade, of Springdale, PA, was sitting in the seat and hit the dock. She was taken to Putnam Community Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. The accident happened in the 400 block of West River Road north of Palatka. Among six at the reunion, three were from Pennsylvania and three were from Jacksonville, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Federation. Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2012-03-25/story/8-year-old-pennsylvania-girl-killed-putnam-boating-accident#ixzz1qAT302H6

Body of Tugboat Crewmember in Houston Ship Channel Accident Recovered

The body of the tugboat worker who had been missing since the vessel sank this week, has been found. The vessel, JR Nichols sank on Wednesday night. There were five workers on board and four were rescued from the water. The fifth crewmember had been missing for a few hours. The next morning, his body was recovered by salvage workers. The Coast Guard says it is continuing its investigation into the sinking of the tugboat. The vessel was operated by Kinder Morgan

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."

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.

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.