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.