These are seamen and harbor workers working on and around the Fuller Warren Bridge project in Jacksonville, Florida.  I took this on a choppy day while they were working on the St. Johns River. 

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

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

Florida seaman files Jones Act lawsuit against Houston company

9/27/2010 1:36 PM By Michelle Massey, East Texas Bureau A Florida seaman has filed a lawsuit against barge company claiming he was permanently injured. Robert Occhiogrosso filed suit against Maryland Marine Inc., doing business as Higman Barge Lines Inc., on Sept. 16 in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division. According to the lawsuit, the accident occurred on June 27, 2009, as Occhiogrosso was working as a member of the crew of the Tugboat Annopolis in Houston. He states the vessel's unsafe and unseaworthy conditions caused him to suffer permanent personal injuries to his body. Further, he states the accident was caused by the negligence of the defendant or the defendant's employees. The plaintiff is seeking more than $75,000 in damages for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, loss of life's pleasures, loss of physical capacity, disfigurement, loss of ability to perform household services, interest and court costs. Occhiogrosso is represented by Harold Eisenman in Houston. Case No. 1:10-cv-00576

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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