Common Vessels that May Be Unseaworthy in Jones Act Claims

Not all offshore workers will be eligible to file Jones Act claims due to unseaworthiness. The type of vessel you are on matters to the validity of your claim, and a claim against a vessel owner stating that the vessel was unseaworthy can be filed only with certain types of vessels. 

Basically, a moving worksite is typically considered a vessel under the Jones Act. Some common examples of vessels covered under the Jones Act that may be considered unseaworthy include: 

• trawlers;
• tugboats;
• tankers;
• water taxis;
• commercial fishing boats;
• floating cranes;
• luxury and recreational boats (provided you are a crew member);
• moving barges;
• liquid cargo barges;
• drill ships;
• ferries;
• mobile offshore oil rigs or platforms;
• mobile offshore gas rigs or platforms;
• dredges; 
• supply boats;
• railroad car floats; and
• riverboats. 

Remember that in Jones Act claims of unseaworthiness, you need to be on a worksite that is classified as a vessel, and your job must qualify you as a seaman. When proving these factors, you may need the help of a New Orleans lawyer to define an unseaworthy vessel in your Jones Act claim evidence. 

A New Orleans Lawyer Can Help With Jones Act Claims

The Jones Act law provides you with certain protections your employer may not want you to know about. If you suffer a maritime injury a law firm in Louisiana like The Young Firm in New Orleans has Jones Act lawyers that can help you with Jones Act claims. 

Though we are based in Louisiana, we are ready and able to help injured victims throughout the U.S. Order our free Maritime Injury Law guide and/or our guide to what to do when you are injured offshore to learn all about your rights as an injured worker. 

When you are ready to get started with your offshore accident injury case, we urge you to contact us today for a FREE case evaluation – call 1-504-680-4100 or toll-free at 1-866-938-6113.