Seattle Injury Lawyer Blog

Coast Guard responds to half-mile-long diesel leak in the Columbia River

September 27, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology are responding to a vessel that leaked diesel fuel in the Columbia River near Longview, Wash., Wednesday.

The Coast Guard was notified by Ecology at approximately 1 p.m., that the 100-foot former fishing vessel Tiffany, moored on the south side of Lord Island approximately 4 miles downriver from Longview, was leaking diesel from cracks in a fuel tank in its port bow. The incident was initially investigated after reports of a half-mile-long sheen on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.

The Coast Guard dispatched incident management personnel from Sector Columbia River and contracted Cowlitz Clean Sweep to place oil containment boom around the vessel, assess how much diesel is on board and a determine the best strategy to remove the fuel.

New Coast Guard safety regulations for commercial fishing vessels going into effect October 15

September 26, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

As of October 15, 2012, all U.S. commercial fishing vessels operating beyond three nautical miles offshore will be required to have a U.S. Coast Guard dockside safety examination. The mandatory dockside examination requirement, called for in legislation enacted in 2010, affects commercial fishing vessels nationwide, and includes all commercial fishing, fish tender and fish processing vessels.

“The goal of this new regulation is to improve safety. Commercial fishing continues to be the most dangerous of all maritime occupations — more workers die commercially fishing than in any other industry,” said Peggy Murphy, 11th Coast Guard District commercial fishing vessel safety specialist.

“A successful dockside safety examination ensures your vessel is in compliance with the law, but more importantly, safety exams have been proven to help increase crew survival when something goes wrong at sea. We want every commercial fisherman to come home safely,” Murphy says.

Specialized Bicycle Components Recalls Bicycles Due to Fall and Injury Hazards

September 26, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2012 – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of product: Bicycles

Traffic Accidents Down Substantially in 2011

September 26, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

According to reports from the Washington State Patrol, there were fewer accidents statewide in 2011 than at anytime in the past 11 years. In 2011, the WSP reported about 99,000 collisions, which continued a downward trend from a recent peak in 2005 of 123,000 traffic collisions.

The WSP credited drivers’ use of seat belts and air bags in the reduction in fatalities, but the reduction in collisions also meant that improved driver behavior had lead to less crashes. Injuries were down about 20 percent from the peak year in 2005. DUI-related collisions were also down about 21 percent. Fatality collisions were down about 30 percent from 2005.

In a statement, WSP Chief John R. Batiste said the three most important factors are slowing down, paying attention to the road and driving sober. “We don’t have to accept collisions as an inevitable fact of life,” he said.

Coast Guard Rescues Crew of the Moonlight Maid

September 26, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – According to a report from the U.S. Coast Guard, on September, 21, 2012, the Coast Guard rescued four men from a life raft after they abandoned their fishing vessel more than 30 miles south of Resurrection Bay. Weather at the time the vessel sank was reported as 20-30 mph winds and 13-foot seas.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received a mayday call on marine VHF radio channel 16 at 9:01 p.m. from the crew of the 110-foot fishing vessel Moonlight Maid. The crew reported that the vessel was sinking and they were donning survival suits and entering their life raft.

Sector Anchorage watchstanders directed the launch of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to rescue the men in distress. The helicopter crew located the four individuals in their life raft at 10:51 p.m. The helicopter crew safely hoisted the fishermen and took them to Seward where they were transferred to emergency medical personnel. There were no reported injuries.

Oil sheen above sunken vessel in Mount Vernon

September 25, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology are responding to an oil spill, Monday, from a sunken 71-foot fishing vessel near Twin Bridge Marina located in Mount Vernon.

An oil sheen is located on the surface of the water above the sunken vessel. The Coast Guard contracted Global Diving and Salvage Company to contain and clean up the spill.

Boom has been placed around the sheen and divers are preparing to plug and patch any source of leakage.

Fishing vessel crewmember sustains serious injury in fall near Cape Disappointment, Washington

September 24, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Coast Guard medevaced a man from a commercial fishing vessel approximately 75 miles west of the Columbia River entrance, Saturday.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report at approximately 8:35 p.m., Friday, indicating one of two men aboard the 52-foot commercial fishing vessel Melville had fallen and sustained a serious head injury approximately 90 miles west of the Columbia River entrance.

A rescue swimmer worked with the healthy crewmember aboard Melville to get the deck clear and prepare the injured man for a hoist.

Two Men Injured During Construction of Parking Garage

September 20, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Seattle – Two construction workers were injured and taken to Harborview Medical Center after they after they were injured this morning in an accident at a parking garage under construction at the intersection of First Avenue and King Street.

The two men were working on the roof of the structure when they were struck by a wall of rebar. One worker suffered moderate to serious injuries while the second man’s injuries weren’t as serious, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

Under Washington law, the general contractor in-charge of the construction has an obligation to enforce job safety work regulations. It is important after these types of events that a complete and prompt investigation is conducted to determine whether safety regulations were violated and whether the men involved would be entitled to compensation for their injuries. If you have questions, please feel free to contact one of our lawyers.

Teck Smelter Stipulates to Polluting the Columbia River

September 17, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

According to the Spokesman Review, Canadian mining company Teck Metals, Inc. has admitted in U.S. District Court to dumping toxic metals and other pollution into the Columbia River near the Washington border during the past century.

The legal stipulation released Monday, September 10, 2012, comes a week before the company is set to defend itself in a trial brought by the Colville Confederated Tribes and the State of Washington.

The company’s smelter and ore processing operations in Trail, B.C., discharged hundreds of thousands of tons of hazardous materials and metals from slag and industrial sewage.

F/V ADVANTAGE SINKS OUTSIDE OF KODIAK

September 5, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

According to news reports, one crew member is dead and another missing after the Kodiak-based F/V ADVANTAGE sank 50 miles southeast of Kodiak City. According the U.S. Coast Guard, three crew members were rescued from their liferaft by a Coast Guard helicopter. None of the crewmembers were wearing survival suits. Skipper Leif Bolan died after he and two crewmembers were transported to the hospital in Kodiak, Alaska. Another crewmember, Jaime Gallege, was missing in the water. At the time of the incident, the weather conditions were reportedly good with 2-3 foot seas. It is presently unknown why the vessel sank and the Coast Guard is reportedly investigating the cause of the sinking.

As seaman injured or killed in the service of the vessel, these crew members are covered by the Jones Act. The Jones Act provides a cause of action for wrongful death of a crew member and may provide the family with much needed financial support after the devastating loss of a loved one. Moreover, injured crew members may collect damages under the Jones Act for lost wages and other damages for pain, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. With decades of experience representing seamen, our firm is ready to help navigate these difficult issues. If you need help, give us a call for a no-cost consultation to get your questions answered by an experienced maritime lawyer.