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

Thousands of Galveston County maritime workers, including shipyard and offshore workers are in danger of injury during their daily commute to work. Due to a shortage of funds, county authorities stopped work on a repair project on Pelican Island Bridge, which is used daily by the workers.

The bridge over the Galveston ship channel suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Ike. It is stable, but maritime workers, as well as Texas A&M University staff and students who use the bridge daily are forced to drive at 10 mph to cross. Before the Ike damage, the speed limit along the bridge was 35 mph. The bridge underwent emergency repairs soon after Ike and was back to normal operations less than a week after the water receded. Galveston County Navigation District No.1 paid Texas Gulf Company $1.5 million to repair the bridge, but in early February the project was shut down due to shortage of funds. A local contractor Lamson Nguyen has agreed to take up the task of filling potholes on the bridge free of cost. However, the fact is that the 50-year-old bridge is in need of permanent repairs. The district has no funds available to continue the work and has requested $6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition to the badly damaged bridge, the district needs an additional $3 million to repair a fender system, which protects Pelican Island Bridge from passing boats. If federal funds are not forthcoming, the district has indicated that tax rates may have to be increased in order to fund repairs.

As in many other states across the country, essential infrastructure projects are being slashed due to shortage of funds. The economic recession has led to budget deficits nationwide, and it's having a telling effect on citizen safety. Everyday, Pelican Island Bridge is used by maritime workers, including shipyard and offshore workers to commute to work. Although authorities have confirmed the bridge is passable and should not pose a risk to workers, repairs must be conducted soon so workers are safe and put to as little inconvenience as possible.

Maritime Injury Attorneys

People injured in maritime workplace accidents are eligible for benefits under maritime laws, including the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act. A maritime attorney can help you determine the laws under which you are eligible for compensation and file claims under these laws.

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

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Maritime employees who work at the Port of Beaumont and the Port of Orange can look forward to better infrastructure and, in turn, to improved efficiency and safety as a result of substantial government funding for the ports released February 18.

The ports will receive $4 million each from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, as part of federal economic recovery efforts. The Port of Beaumont has released a statement confirming that it will use its share of funds for rail improvements on its Orange County property. The Port of Orange will invest the money in the development of cargo transportation infrastructure at its Sabine River property. These investments are expected to increase efficiency at both ports. For instance, with new infrastructure, cargo can be transferred directly from the Port of Orange to the Port of Houston. Currently, cargo from the Port of Orange has to go through Port Arthur or Port of Beaumont. New infrastructure will also add to the efficiency of cargo shipping operations from the industrial plants on Chemical Row. Port of Beaumont's investment of the federal funds is expected to create hundreds of jobs, in addition to increasing the capabilities of the port by at least 50%. The Orange County property will include deep access capabilities, as well as development of a new dock. The port will not depend solely on federal funds to finance these ambitious new infrastructure projects. According to Chris Fisher, Port of Beaumont's executive director, the total funding from the Economic Development Administration is $134 million and has been distributed to other Texas ports, as well as ports in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico.

Anytime a port invests in infrastructure and other development projects thousands of maritime workers, longshoreman and port workers benefit. Updated infrastructure means enhanced safety for maritime workers and a markedly reduced risk of injuries and accidents.

Texas Maritime Attorneys

The maritime attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP have helped hundreds of injured maritime workers recover compensation for injuries sustained on the job.

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

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A new maritime safety law that requires workers to have identification cards in ports and riverfront plants in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and other ports around the country went into effect in much of Louisiana 3 weeks ago.

The rules, mandated by the Maritime Transportation Safety Act, require workers who need access to the riverfront to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Having TWIC cards to identify workers is expected to enhance maritime safety. Those who fail to obtain the cards will have no access to their usual work areas until they get one. Under the rules, any one who wishes to access the dock or go through the riverfront to report for work at a plant must have the TWIC. Workers who do not have the identification card will require an escort to access these areas. In Louisiana, the program went into effect on January 13th and will follow in all American ports by April 14th. Industries have been preparing for the roll-out for several months now and many of them report that their workers are equipped with the cards. Workers who have delayed in siging up for their card will spend several weeks being escorted to docks and riverfront facilities. This is because the procedure involves intensive background checks before the card can be issued. According to the Transportation Security Administration, approximately 800,000 workers have already registered for the identification card program and 1.2 million are expected to be equipped with the cards before the final deadline in April.

Across the region, other ports including, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Port Arthur, Orange Beaumont and Port of Lake Charles are hard at work trying to comply with TWIC rules before the April 14th deadline. The ports of Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Victoria and Point Comfort met their compliance deadline November 28th of last year. The Port of Mobile Alabama District's compliance date was December 28th, while the Saint Petersburg Florida District and New Orleans District was January 13th. The rules that aim to bolster maritime safety at our ports apply to higher management at companies that work in these regions also.

Maritime Safety

Oil companies, drilling companies and other maritime employers are required to make sure that work conditions for their employees are as safe as possible, this includes providing a secure environment in light of the new threats our ports face.  Damages for maritime injuries suffered by a worker in the absence of such safe working conditions can be claimed under several maritime laws including the Jones Act, the Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act as well as other laws that protect maritime workers from employer negligence.  A Louisiana maritime attorney can help you evaluate your claim and get the compensation you deserve.

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

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The Texas Ports Association has honored Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison as its “Person of the Year” for her contribution to maritime safety at Texas ports. Annually, the honor is awarded to individuals who support and work for the advancement of Texas ports, including making them safer and more efficient.

The state's ports are some of the busiest in the country with an estimated 20% of its deep sea traffic. Senator Hutchison, the only female senator to represent Texas in the Senate, has been a long time supporter of our ports. Some of her goals have been to boost the competency and efficiency of the ports, and increase the number of security personnel. According to Jim Edmonds, chairman of Port of Houston Authority, Senator Hutchison has always been involved in efforts to bolster safety and security at the ports and strengthen their functioning, so they can contribute to the economic success of the state and the country. Senator Hutchison has a position in the Senate Appropriations Committee and is also a Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee. Through her association with these committees, Senator Hutchison has been heavily involved in the improvement of the maritime industry. She was instrumental in passing the SAFE Port Act in 2006, which established a set of standards for containers arriving in the U.S. and allows inspection of containers at random. She is also a strong supporter of increased funding for Texas ports through the Port Security Grant Program which has channeled more than $2 million to the state's ports over the last 6 years.

Maritime Accidents

Longshore workers, who may work for a port, often toil in dangerous jobs like loading and unloading cargo or crane and derrick operations. These jobs are often far more dangerous than they need to be. Simply following safety guidelines can reduce a longshore worker's risk of falling, being hit by falling objects, being run over by cranes and other maritime accidents.

Longshore workers injured while performing non-marine activities like loading and unloading or repairing vessels and rigs may be eligible for compensation under maritime laws. An experienced Texas maritime lawyer can help you recover compensation from the parties responsible. 

If you have been injured in a maritime accident, contact a maritime lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

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