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Fisherman Goes Overboard from MISS WINNIE

by | Dec 5, 2023 | Maritime Law, Wrongful Death

A fisherman went overboard from the commercial fishing vessel MISS WINNIE on December 2, 2023.  At the time, the boat was southwest of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.  After being notified, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted search and rescue operations which were unsuccessful.  The victim has been identified as Felipe Lozano from Palacios, Texas.  The incident remains under investigation at this time.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this loss.

There have been a number of recent incidents involving vessels.  The car carrier GALAXY LEADER was attacked and hijacked on November 19, 2023.  Four crew members went missing from the bulk carrier MEGHNA ADVENTURE in the Mississippi River near Belle Chasse, Louisiana on November 27, 2023.  A small recreational boat capsized off the coast of San Francisco, California on November 30, 2023.

It can be dangerous to work in any industry when safety considerations are not taken seriously.  Safe offshore vessel owners and operators must ensure that their ships do not put the lives of hard working men and women at risk.  Safe companies must be proactive and take preventative measures, including regular maintenance and repairs, to also ensure that the environment is not impacted.

Even when a company has practices and procedures in place to prevent incidents like this, mishaps such as the one described above are cannot be completely eliminated.  All too often, human error and negligence are the reasons for these vessel collisions.  Whether it is due to poor judgment, a normalization of deviance from the proper procedures or a lack of proper rest and recovery, humans err and sometimes these errors result in the property damage, injury or death.  Operating modern sea vessels is not an inherently unsafe act as long as those responsible do so in such a manner that is not negligent. When the operation of sea vessels is conducted in a negligent manner, it does not take long for the situation to become dangerous.

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 a maritime accident. The lawyers of Spagnoletti Law Firm have handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country.

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 accident on a ship. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to maritime injuries, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 to learn more about your rights.