Maritime News

The Coast Guard evacuated Brooklyn’s Gravesend Bay after a pressurized tank burst on a tanker ship carrying thousands of gallons of ethanol.

 
The explosion occurred around 9am on January 10, 2010. The crew was offloading 55,000 gallons of ethanol when the over-pressurized tank burst and part of the ship’s deck collapsed. There were 18 workers aboard the Sichem Defiance, a 443-foot tanker owned by the Indian Company Eitsen Chemical, at the time of the incident. No one was injured and no ethanol was spilled into the water.

 
The Coast Guard cleared out a 1,000-yard area around the ship as a precautionary measure.

 
Seamen do dangerous work. Some of the most dangerous chemicals in the world are carried on ships that unload in the ports near New Orleans. These chemicals may be toxic or explosive, and if safety precautions aren’t taken, workers can be injured.

 
It is a vessel owners responsibility to ensure safe working conditions. This means, the ship must be seaworthy, there must be appropriate and adequate safety equipment, and workers must receive the training needed to do their job safely. If conditions are not safe, the vessel-owner is at fault. 

 
If you’ve been injured while working at sea, you have rights. You may be eligible for compensation under Jones Act Law or under general maritime law. To learn more contact the maritime injury attorneys at The Young Firm.