Florida Maritime Accident Lawyer
Shipyard Accidents & Longshoreman Injuries
Italian Azimut Motor Yacht Broken up in Crane Accident
Category: Shipyard Accidents & Longshoreman Injuries
One of the reasons why lifting a boat from the water is so hazardous is that it stresses the boat in ways for which the boat is typically not designed. Boats are designed to support their weight over the length of a fairly buoyant and broad hull. When all that weight is concentrated at just two, or even three points, one tends to find out where the weak spots are. Such was the case of a used Italian Azimut motor yacht which was being shipped by an Arab sheik to its new American owner. The new owner had booked space on the deck of a containership which was loading in Italy. The Arab sheik had his crew deliver the boat alongside the containership and a cradle was built on deck to carry it.
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Navy had duty to Warn Ship Repair Worker of Hidden Danger
Category: Shipyard Accidents & Longshoreman Injuries
What duty does the Navy have to shipyard workers working aboard U.S. Naval vessels? There are three actually. First, it needs to turnover the ship to them in a reasonably safe condition. Secondly, it needs to warn them of hidden dangers. Finally, if Navy personnel see a shipyard worker doing something so dangerous that it is likely to cause injury, they have a duty to intervene. If the Navy breaches any of these three duties, then the shipyard worker can sue the Navy under the Public Vessels Act in what is called a 905(b) action. 905(b) is the section of the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act which permist third party suits.
A district court in Jacksonville recently re-affirmed those duties in a suit by a shipyard worker injured by a particularly loud loudspeaker.
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