Jones Act Maritime Lawyer : Houston Jones Act & Maritime Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : Offshore Injury, Maritime Law : Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requiring offshore helicopters in the Gulf of Mexico to reevaluate their communication procedures in order to avoid accidents during high traffic periods, such as after a hurricane or other disaster. The recommendations came after a probe into a helicopter crash near Texas in 2005.

On September 6th, 2005, a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter with 8 Rowan Companies oil rig workers on board crashed into the Gulf of Mexico approximately 24 miles southeast of Sabine Pass, Texas. The helicopter had just taken off from a jack rig owned by Rowan Companies, and was on its way to the company's facility in Sabine Pass.  There were 2 other passengers on board, as well as a two-member crew. They were all able to safely make their way out of the helicopter before it submerged. Both pilots and 3 of the passengers suffered serious injuries in the accident, while the rest of the passengers suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, all occupants were wearing personal flotation devices, these helped them stay afloat in the waters for close to 7.5 hours before help arrived. The investigation found that the accident was caused because of the pilots' slow response when the first engine failed. The board concluded that the slow response was probably due to high stress levels because of the timing of the crash - one week after hurricane Katrina made landfall. The chaotic conditions soon after Katrina hit caused delays in the communication network at Houston Helicopters Inc, the company that operated the helicopter. According to the Board's report, there were several violations at Houston Helicopters Inc. which contributed to the delayed rescue efforts. Post Katrina, other offshore helicopter operators serving drilling companies in the Gulf of Mexico made alternative arrangements, so they could continue supporting helicopter flights. Houston Helicopters Inc., however, failed to make any substitute arrangements. Instead, management at the company recommended that pilots use their own cell phones to transmit important flight information to the control center. The board also found that although Houston Helicopters Inc. had a record of 8 accidents, 3 incidents and at least 18 FAA surveillance violations, there were no follow ups made to check if the company was in compliance with rules regarding alternate methods of flight following procedures.   

The offshore helicopter crash near Texas could have ended in tragedy and the passengers and crew members were lucky to be able to survive with only injuries. They were, however, forced to undergo the trauma of waiting for several hours in the cold waters of the Gulf because of Houston Helicopter Inc's negligence. 

Maritime Accident Claims

Offshore rig workers are exposed to several risks when they use helicopters to travel from platform to shore as part of their maritime duties.  Injuries that occur during such air travel can make a worker eligible for compensation under maritime law. An expert maritime attorney can help workers determine their options for compensation.

If you have been injured in a maritime accident, contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.

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The last remnants of a dilapidated and unseaworthy vessel, the jack-up oil rig Zeus, that had been left standing in the Freeport channel south of Houston, Texas, have finally been removed, putting an end to two years of concerns over maritime pollution and the potential for injuries that could occur as a result of the toppling of the giant structure.

Early in November, Kevin Hoot Construction Co. the company that won the bid to remove the structure completed the final stages of the removal, pulling out the last of the rig's one million pound feet from the sea bed. The feet of the rig are already on their way to junkyards across the state, where they will be cut up to be sold as scrap. A decision on where the rig, a Freeport landmark will finally be laid to rest is yet to be taken. The Zeus Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) had been left standing in the channel, for over 17 years. In 2004, the platform was sold to Sanship Inc. for a sum of$1. For years before that, the 190-feet-tall rig has acted as a beacon for fisherman and jetties, and has been a much-loved part of the Freeport skyline.  Its tearing down has been an emotional experience for most residents. 

The platform would have been left standing for much longer, if it hadn't been for the fact that port officials noticed it was leaking pollutants into the water about two years ago. Soon after, the US Coast guard expressed its apprehension that a tornado or hurricane could cause the structure to collapse, blocking off the mouth of the channel. The owner Emilio Sanchez, was ordered to get the structure dismantled, and when he refused, the Texas Land Office was entrusted with the task of tearing down the platform.

The project was extremely hazardous in nature, and required at least two weeks of preliminary ground work just to make it safe enough for the maritime workers to get up on the rig. Zeus' massive bulk, coupled with its heavily rusted framework made workers extremely susceptible to maritime injuries, but the project was executed successfully. Most of the structure was torn down in time to avoid a possible collapse under the onslaught of Hurricane Ike, which tore through the Texas coastline just a couple of months later. The feet of the rig were the last to go, dug out and dismantled in November.

The giant rig will be missed by Freeport residents, especially its fishing community, but there's no doubt that a major environmental and maritime injury hazard has been eliminated now that the Zeus has finally been laid to rest.

Unseaworthy vessels threaten safety of maritime workers

Unseaworthy vessels like the Zeus jack-up drilling rig can be a serious hazard to maritime workers who operate, maintain, or in the case of the Zeus, demolish them. When the Zeus was operational, maritime workers having a permanent connection to its operation and maintenance would have qualified as Jones Act seamen and been protected under the Jones Act statute. But because the rig is no longer operational, workers in charge of dismantling it would not likely qualify for protection under the Jones Act. They would however likely qualify for benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.  The LHWCA provides workers' compensation benefits for maritime workers who are not seamen such as the construction workers involved in the demolition of the Zeus.

Questions about Jones Act Seaman status

Seaman status under the Jones Act is a complex and highly debated topic. Fortunately the Jones Act isn't the only statute that provides protection and benefits for injured maritime workers and their families. If you have been injured in a maritime accident offshore or inshore, a maritime lawyer can help you understand what options you may have under the available statutes for claiming compensation. Contact a maritime lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free initial consultation.

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