Maritime News

New evidence shows that the Lady Mary, a scallop trawler that sank of the coast of New Jersey, might have been hit by another vessel.

 
The ship sank on March 25, 2009. The investigation resumed this week.  It had been suspended while a volunteer team of divers gathered evidence from the wreckage. The findings were recently revealed at a Coast Guard hearing
 
The hearing board reviewed more than an hour of video and photograph images taken by divers over the summer. The images revealed significant damage to the port side stern including crushing and a six-inch gash in the heavy steel panels. The rudder was also damaged. The beige rudder had a red paint scrape on it which suggests contact with another vessel. Parts of the ship are being examined in the National Transportation Board laboratory.

 
There were seven men aboard the Lady Mary. The sole survivor, Jose Luis Aria, described being woken by another crew member and grabbing his survival suit. He did not know what caused the sinking.

 
Investigators brought up an April 14 incident involving the Maine-based scallop trawler, Dictator. The crew of the dictator was almost run down by a 965-foot container ship. Fortunately, first mate Todd Curtis spied the ship and turned the boat just in time and the ship was spared.

 
If you have lost a loved one to the sea, you may be eligible for compensation under maritime law. Our Jones Act attorneys can help.