Maritime News

Three men are suing the owners of the crude oil tanker M/V Eagle Otome for injuries they sustained after the tanker hit the barge they were working on.

 
The collision occurred on January 23, 2010 in the Port Arthur ship channel. The Eagle Otome veered out of control and pushed into the barge as it was being pushed by a tugboat near the Port of Port Arthur. The Eagle Otome was carrying 570,000 barrels of high sulfur Venezuelan crude oil to the Exxon Mobil oil refinery. Approximately 450,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the waterway and dangerous hydrogen sulfate fumes were released. The neighborhoods near the Port were evacuated because of the fumes.

 
Barge workers Eric Delahoussaye, Gerald Dwyer and Timothy Jacquet of Port Arthur have filed a suit claiming they were injured in the accident. Delahoussaye and Dwyer susteained severe and permanent injuries to their backs and necks and also suffered from the exposure to and inhalation of hydrogen sulfate. Jacquet suffered severe and permanent injuries to his back and pelvis as well as exposure to and inhalation of hydrogen sulfate. The men are asking for compensation for medical costs, lost wages, physical incapacity and disability and loss of enjoyment of life among other damages.

 
The maritime lawsuit accuses American Eagle Tankers, the owners of the Eagle Otome, for causing the accident with negligence and gross negligence. The men are seeking $15 million in damages.

  
Every day, 150 barges and 15 tankers pass through the waterway.