On February 6, 2022, the Captain on the shrimp boat LADY NORA fell overboard after slipping on the vessel. At the time, the vessel was off the coast of Texas near Port Aransas. The Coast Guard performed search and rescue operations, involving a helicopter and a vessel, but the Captain was unable to be located. Reports have identified the captain as Michael Ramirez. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this tragic accident.
The vessel is owned and operated by Brownsville, Texas-based Nora Trawlers Inc.
There have been a number of recent incidents involving vessels. There was a fire on the tanker vessel ALMUNTAZAH on January 22, 2022. A recreational boat capsized in Chincoteague Bay, Virginia on January 22, 2022. A fire broke out on the bulk carrier NORD BALTIC on January 28, 2022. There was a deadly incident on board the bulk carrier MATHILDE OLDENDORFF on January 29, 2022. There was an explosion on board the floating production storage vessel TRINITY SPIRIT on February 3, 2022.
Safe maritime companies must perform regular maintenance and inspections in order to ensure the safety of their crew members. When ship operators fail to conduct regular maintenance and inspection of the equipment on their vessels, dangerous incidents can result. This not only puts the lives of hardworking seamen at risk, but can also endanger members of the public.
The custom and practice of the maritime industry, as well as government standards, place upon maritime employers a duty to provide safe working, walking, and stepping surfaces to their crew members. At this time it is unknown if the owner of the vessel made sure that
the deck and walking surfaces on board were safe to use and kept well maintained. As you are no doubt aware, the vessel owner’s duty to provide a seaworthy vessel is non-delegable. A seaworthy vessel is one that is reasonably fit for its intended use. The duty to provide a seaworthy vessel is absolute because the owner may not delegate that duty to anyone.
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 previously handled injury cases arising from falls during vessel operations.
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 a fall while on a vessel or offshore platform. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to maritime injuries, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your rights.