Fishing Boat Catches Fire off Galveston Texas Coast, No Injuries Reported
A fishing boat carrying three crew members had to be rescued about 10 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas after a fire broke out on board, the Houston Chronicle reports. Fortunately, no maritime injuries were reported as a result of the accident.
The Coast Guard was alerted to the accident when the Houston-Galveston Center received an emergency aid call from another boat about a fire that had broken out aboard the shrimp boat, Master Ryan. A rescue helicopter, a motor life boat and a Coast Guard Cutter were dispatched to the scene of the fire. The helicopter delivered a life raft to the three crew members who then climbed aboard the raft. They were then picked up by another vessel and taken ashore. All crew members were reported to be in good physical condition. The blaze was put out a few hours later. There is no information yet on the cause of the fire.
It's extremely fortunate that the three crew members were able to get the emergency assistance they needed before the accident involved injuries aboard the boat. Any fire aboard a vessel is a serious and dangerous situation. There could have been severe burn injuries as a result of the fire breaking out. For this reason, strict safety precautions must be observed aboard all maritime vessels to mitigate the risk of fire, and all shipboard personnel must be properly trained in fire safety policies and procedures. Only time and a thorough investigation will tell whether a lack of safety policies, procedures, or training may have contributed to the fire aboard the Master Ryan.
Fishing Boats and Maritime Law
A fishing boat may be classified as a Jones Act vessel, and as such, workers who are injured in an accident aboard the vessel may qualify for compensation under the Jones Act. The Jones Act defines a seaman as an employee who is working on a vessel in navigable waters, and who is involved in fulfilling the function of the vessel. He must also have a strong enough connection to the boat, meaning that his work must be tangible, and substantial long term work. Under the Jones Act, in addition to medical treatment for his injuries, he may be entitled to maintenance benefits to cover his daily living expenses, including food, house rent and utilities. Unfortunately, fishing boat crew may be confused or unaware of their seaman status under the Jones Act, and may be unaware of the special rights they have under the Act.
Maritime Injury Lawsuits
In the event that an employer provides insufficient benefits to a Jones Act seaman, then the seaman has the right to hire a maritime injury lawyer to bring a claim against the employer. In such cases, the employee may also claim lawyer's fees as part of his claim against his employer.
If you are a seaman and have been injured in an explosion, fire or any other maritime accident, you will need the experience of a Jones Act maritime lawyer to build your case to claim the full compensation you deserve. Contact the maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.
