A 70-foot long tugboat, The Capt. Larry Barkins, sank in Mobile Bay off Mobile, Alabama in the predawn hours of October 31, 2009. The crew of four was left stranded. 
 
A helicopter flown by the Coast Guard located and retrieved the three crew members who had stayed with the sinking tugboat. The search continued for a fourth man who was presumed missing. However, he was able to make it to shore on a 14-foot skiff. He alerted the local fire department that he was safe and the search was called off.

 
Fortunately, all crewmembers were uninjured.

 
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

 
Working on or near the water can be deadly. Danger is an everyday part of the job; therefore, proper maintenance and a safe working environment are essential.

 
If you are injured in an accident or hurt at sea while working on a tugboat, barge, fishing boat, or other vessel, you are covered by the Jones Act. However, getting the compensation you are entitled to, is not always simple. To learn more, request our free book, “Six Secrets Your Company May Not Tell You When You Get Injured Offshore.”