As Drilling Increases, Maritime Accidents Will Inevitably Rise
Worker injuries on the often-dangerous oil rigs, drill ships, supply and crew boats, and inland vessels such as tugboats and towboats, typically rise as production increases.

April 01, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- As Drilling Increases, Maritime Accidents Will Inevitably Rise

Increased crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has sparked hope that the recession will soon end. As the nation returns to economic health, shipping lanes, ports and the gulf oil and gas production and drilling industry will get busier with goods moving in and out. That is good news for the area and the rest of the country. The bad news, however, is that worker injuries on the often-dangerous oil rigs, drill ships, supply and crew boats, and inland vessels such as tugboats and towboats, typically rise as production increases.

The Importance of Gulf Coast Drilling and Shipping

Shipping and oil and gas drilling are arguably the lifeblood of Louisiana, providing needed oil and gas to the rest of the nation and serving as an export gateway to the world. Louisiana is home to interstate highways, railways, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Port of New Orleans and the Ports of South Louisiana combine to form the largest port system in the world by bulk tonnage and the fourth largest by annual volume. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge ranks among the top-ten U.S. ports and is 32nd in the world in total annual tonnage. A recent report forecasts increased oil and gas production in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico over the next two years.

Oil Rig Safety Issues

Drilling rigs and other offshore structures are difficult work environments with a wide variety of dangers for oil and gas workers. Increased production means there are more people on jack-up drilling rigs, semi-submersible drilling rigs and drill ships, as well as on the supply boats, crewboats and helicopters transporting goods and people to and from the rigs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists hundreds of safety standards for oil rigs, each designed to help prevent injuries and fatalities. According to OSHA, an employer must "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."

Some maritime workers who are injured can file claims under the Jones Act, while others will be eligible to file claims under the general maritime law or Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act is a federal law that provides a seaman who is injured in the course of his employment the right to file a lawsuit for compensation, if the employer was negligent or the vessel was unseaworthy. Even if a ship owner did nothing wrong, the seaman is entitled to maintenance and cure.

"Maintenance" is a maritime term referring to room and board. In other words, it refers to the daily cost necessary to pay a seaman for the room and board that would otherwise be provided aboard the vessel. "Cure" refers to the medical expenses involved with the injury or illness sustained in the course of service to a vessel.

Workers injured on a jack-up rig, supply boat or crew boat, or on a tugboat or towboat may be entitled to file a lawsuit under the Jones Act and general maritime law. The survivors of a maritime worker killed offshore can bring a wrongful death claim pursuant to the Death on the High Seas Act.

How the Law Affects You

If you or a loved one has been injured while working on a floating drilling rig, supply or crew boat, or inland vessel such as a tugboat or towboat, contact a Gulf Coast maritime personal injury lawyer who understands maritime and admiralty law -- and how it can be used to protect you and your family.  

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