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Crew Member Missing After Attempted Transfer from Gore Marine Tugboat

by | Nov 29, 2020 | Maritime Law, Wrongful Death

A crew member from the Tugboat Pops is missing after attempting to transfer to a barge on Sunday, November 22, 2020.  At the time the vessel was near Blount Island in Jacksonville, Florida.  It is unclear what caused the crew member to go into the water.  He has been identified as Ozzy Martinez, a member of the Local 25 Marine Division of the International Union of Operating Engineers.  The tugboat is owned and operated by Gore Marine.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by this tragedy.

Crew members on board tugboats routinely have to access barges during their work.  Every year numerous tug workers are injured during this process.  Boarding a vessel is one of the most dangerous tasks that occurs.  Injuries routinely occur during a transfer to or from the vessel.  The goal for any safe offshore company must be to minimize risks involved in this dangerous task.  Transfers should only occur in good weather conditions.  Additionally, all involved in the transfer must ensure that hazards have been properly analyzed by workers beforehand.  A vessel captain must keep his vessel stationary during a transfer to eliminate risks involved with a moving landing target.  Additionally, a captain must consider the positioning of his vessel alongside the barges during this process.

Our experienced lawyers handle maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation of all kinds and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. The lawyers of Spagnoletti Law Firm have handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country.  Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime injury and death cases involving transfers to and from a vessel.

The experienced and aggressive vessel accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an incident during a transfer. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 to learn more about your rights.