Maritime Injury Blog

First victims of Deepwater Horizon must not be forgotten

How quickly the mainstream media seems to have forgotten that 11 lives were lost and 17 workers were injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion April 20.

Trade association challenges unfair seafarer detention

The international trade association InterManager has condemned the practice of detaining seafarers in criminal cases they may have nothing to do with.

Last ditch efforts failed to prevent Port Arthur collision

Desperate attempts, including pulling an emergency stop and dropping an anchor at full speed, could not prevent the worst Texas oil spill in 15 years.

Barge strikes Mississippi River bridge

Investigators says a combination of wind and human error cause a tug-barge unit to smash into a support piling of the Sunshine Bridge in Louisiana Thursday morning.

Just why did a tug capsize while moored in a Norfolk yard?

Nearly one week after it happened, there are still no reports as to what caused a tug to capsize—while moored—at a Norfolk, VA. yard.

Al-Qaeda to target Red Sea shipping lanes?

But a report cited in the New York State Office of Homeland Security weekly newsletter says that an al-Qaeda cell based in Yemen known as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is making plans to take over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, with the partnership of al-Shabaab.

Caribbean container ship midnight sinking remains a mystery

Maritime investigators say it may take a long time to learn the cause of the sinking of a cargo ship bound for Barbados.

Near disaster for world’s first pipe laying DP vessel changes safety standards

The operator of the first pipe laying ship to utilize dynamic positioning-or DP-was forced to change its safety policy after dragging a gas pipeline 1,312 feet on the seabed.

Barge breaks free off New Jersey and drifts into Virginia

A container barge drifted over 100 miles after a tow line snapped in a late 2009 storm off the Eastern seaboard.

NTSB and Coast Guard at odds over passenger vessel safety regs

The National Transportation Safety Board, in a recent report about a 2008 fire aboard a Columbia River passenger vessel, strongly recommends that all vessels authorized to carry over 49 passengers be mandated to have a fixed fire-suppression system and fire-detection sensors in the engine room.

Oregon passenger vessel blaze reveals lax Coast Guard safety requirements

A Columbia River passenger vessel that caught on fire in 2008 had only one six person inflatable dinghy available as a rescue boat for its 177 passengers and crew.

Record snowfall sinks famous Pennsylvania river boat

The Becky Thatcher is “beyond repair. It’s a total loss,” said Jeffrey Levin, owner of the historic Ohio River stern wheeler that sank in Western Pennsylvania from the major snowstorm earlier this month.

2008 Columbia riverboat fire blamed on hydraulic leak in new NTSB report

The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that a 2008 fire on a Columbia River passenger vessel was caused by a hydraulic leak. That is the conclusion of a recently released NTSB report on the fire, which occurred on the Queen of the West in Oregon on April 8, 2008.

2008 Columbia riverboat fire blamed on hydraulic leak in new NTSB report

The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that a 2008 fire on a Columbia River passenger vessel was caused by a hydraulic leak. That is the conclusion of a recently released NTSB report on the fire, which occurred on the Queen of the West in Oregon on April 8, 2008.

Sad comedy of errors in collision between ship and dredge

A master, helmsman and pilot each received criticism in a recently released NTSB report on a 2008 ship-dredge collision just outside New York Harbor.

Steering failure disables Greek bulker in Columbia River

The motor vessel Golden Glow was bound for sea carrying over 50,000 tons of grain when one of its steering gear motors mysteriously shut down in the Columbia River.

Flag of convenience operators taking a back seat in defending against piracy

When it comes to deploying armed security details, many cut rate carriers stand fast, citing the industry mantra of “escalation of violence” as an excuse not to support such a policy.

Ship leaking oil into Gulf

Pollution responders remain at the scene of a 12,000 gallon bunker fuel discharge from a vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil is leaking through a reported five centimeter hole about five feet below the waterline of the motor vessel Pac Alkaid, which is anchored 10 miles from Southwest Pass.

A sheen has washed up on the rocks of the Southwest Pass jetty. The Coast Guard and O'Brien's Response Management are on site containing and cleaning the discharge. The cause of the hole in the vessel's starboard fuel tank is unknown. The Pac Alkaid has a 120,000 gallon fuel oil capacity.

The vessel reported the discharge to the Coast Guard at 2:00 a.m. when it was anchored about five miles from the jetty. The Coast Guard later ordered it relocated further out after winds pushed the sheen onto shore.

Greek master gets prison time and barred from U.S.

A Greek captain who pled guilty to oil dumping was sentenced to six months prison followed by four months in a community confinement center in Louisiana.

Panagiotis Lekkas, master of the M.V Theotokos, pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act.

 He has been ordered to pay a $4,000 fine.

Upon his release from the community confinement center, Lekkas must depart the U.S. within 72 hours and banned from entering the country, its ports and territorial waters for three years.

Source: Professional Mariner Magazine

Lessons to be learned from Northeast ferry fire

The Coast Guard has released a safety alert regarding a casualty investigation from a recent fire aboard a passenger ferry.

In the incident, a small engine room fire broke out. As the vessel was near the dock, the Captain ordered the 110 passengers and crew to disembark onto the pier, then activated the engine room CO2 system, which extinguished the fire.

The local fire department arrived and discovered the engine's exhaust insulation smoldering.

Investigators believe the fire started when fluid leaking from the fuel oil filter ignited after spraying onto the exhaust piping.

According to an investigation, the CO2 system worked effectively and all dampers closed properly. However, some of the external moisture eliminator filters were severely damaged.

A leaking pipe fitting attached to the filter is suspected of being at fault.

According to 46 CFR 116.610 (B), "a ventilation duct, and materials incidental to installations must be made of noncombustible material."

The safety alert stresses the need to be aware of potential risk of improper use and installation of insulation.

For the full Coast Guard Safety Alert, click here.

Source: Professional Mariner

Towing vessels collide along Texas Gulf coast

The Coast Guard is investigating a recent collision between two towing vessels near mile marker 312 on the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Arthur, Texas.

The two vessels were the CAROLINE and MISS STACIE. Both were pushing barges. The CAROLINE started taking on water.

Fortunately, another towing vessel in the area named REDEEMER rescued the CAROLINE's five crewmembers. But REDEEMER wasn't finished with her heroic actions.

After rescuing the crewmembers, she then assisted in controlling the CAROLINE'S five barges.

Efforts are underway to salvage the CAROLINE, which ended up partially submerged.

Court upholds seaman's $ 5.2 million dollar judgement from ladder fall

A barge worker who fell off a ladder has been awarded $ 5.2 million by a New York appellate court.

George Brown, plaintiff, suffered undisclosed injuries after an antenna pole he was using as a handrail broke. The accident occurred as Brown was descending from the deckhouse roof, where he had been filling tanks.

Brown sued the Reinaur Transportation Companies for unsafe working conditions and for an unseaworthy vessel. The appellate court's verdict upheld an earlier decision by a lower court that was being contested by Reinaur, which claimed that there was no negligence because the accident occurred on an "unmanned barge."

Heavy oil spill in Houston Ship Channel under investigation

While recently trying to negotiate a turn near the Loop 610 bridge, the 458 foot tanker Chemical Supplier hit a barge moored to a pier. The collision put a two to four foot gash five feet above the ship's waterline.

As a result, 10,500 gallons of heavy fuel oil spilled into the Channel. The Coast Guard closed the section between Old Mancheser Dock Three and City Dock 27 for three days.

At last report, 51,653 gallons of oil and water mix have been collected in the ongoing recovery effort.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Oil spill closes section of Houston Ship Channel

A 10,500 gallon heavy fuel oil spill recently closed the Houston Ship Channel for two days between Old Manchester Dock Three and City Dock 27.

The incident took place after the Chemical Supplier, a 458-foot tanker, collided with a barge tied to a pier after attempting to negotiate a turn near the Loop 601 bridge.

The vessel suffered a gash up to four feet long a few feet above the water line.

Clean up continues and at last report just over 50,000 gallons of an oil and water mix have been recovered.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Income tax filings tripping up mariners in a big way, part 3

The tax code, as it applies to the maritime industry, has been evolving in recent years. Sailors can legally write off such things as meal allowances and port deductions, resulting in substantial refunds.

However, there are some areas lacking universal agreement on interpretation by tax preparers. These disputed areas include:

War Zone Exclusions. According to one well known West Coast tax firm, other firms have been incorrectly filing these writeoffs for years. They claim that merchant mariners are ineligible for such exclusions.

The Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003. Not all tax preparers claim this because some firms allegedly have not kept up with new rules.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Tax industry opinions differ as to whether working on international waters constitutes working in a foreign country.

One reliable piece of advice: mariners should save all work related receipts and keep a daily travel log.

(This article in no way provides advice or makes recommendations for tax preparation. Mariners should always consult a qualified tax advisor knowledgeable on maritime filing laws.)

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