Maritime Law Blog

If you work on a Jones Act Vessel, the vessel’s owner has a responsibility to your safety. You are entitled to a safe place to work and live.  To provide this, a vessel’s owner must maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition.  

 
Vessels include many types of watercraft.  The Supreme Court defined vessel as including “every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.” This definition may include barges, dredges, dry docks, off shore oil rigs and platforms, and even helicopters. 

 
A seaworthy vessel must meet the following criteria:

 
• The vessel is in the appropriate condition for its intended use.

• The vessel is equipped with appropriate equipment and safety gear.

• The vessel has a competent crew.

• The vessel is a safe place to work.

• The vessel is a safe place to live.

 
It is the ship owner’s responsibility to maintain seaworthiness. This responsibility can not be transferred. When an unsafe condition exists on a vessel, an unseaworthiness claim can be made against the vessel’s owner.

 
A vessel may be considered unseaworthy if it is missing safety equipment, if the crew is poorly trained, if proper maintenance has not been done, or if any facilities need repair.

 
If you’ve been injured while working on an unseaworthy vessel, contact Louisiana’s Maritime Law experts at The Young Firm. Our attorneys can help you get compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, rehabilitation and therapy, lost earnings and pain and suffering.