Injured mariner sues when horns don’t sound

A seaman injured in a collision has filed suit against both vessel owners because the captains failed to blast their horns.

George Hill suffered undisclosed injuries when his vessel, the M/V Captain Fatty, and the M/V Creole Sun, collided on Nov. 22, 2010.

His suit states that his vessel had a claimshell on the bow that obstructed vision which hindered his captain's ability to navigate. Moreover, the horn did not work and the other vessel failed to sound its horn.

The defendants are Port Ship Service Inc. and LeBeouf Brothers Towing. They are charged with failure to: maintain a lookout, discover or correct dangerous conditions, maintain working horns, taking steps to avoid a collision, prevent a blocked view, maintain vessels in a reasonably safe condition, train operators in safety, and safeguarding the vessels to protect against the possibility of injury.

Hill asks for pain and mental anguish, aggravation and annoyance, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, disability, medical expenses, loss of income and earning capacity, court costs, punitive damages, and interest.

The case was filed in New Orleans federal court.

Source: Louisiana Record