Tugs or tugboats serve a vital role in vessel and offshore operations. Tugboats provide much needed assistance to larger vessels or oil rigs which need to move through narrow bodies of water. Tugboats also provide assistance to large vessels which cannot move on their own, such as disabled ships/platforms or barges. Tugboats are quite powerful for their size and some are ocean-going. There are three major types of tugboats, including the following:

• Ocean-going tugboat
• Harbor tugboat
• River tugboat

Each type of tugboat handles vessels in its unique area. River tugboats are the type of tugboats most people think of since rivers are difficult for large vessels to navigate. However, harbor and ocean-going tugboats are extremely important to the offshore industry. Given the high horsepower involved in navigating a tugboat, experienced seaman must be in charge of duties onboard the tug. However, sometimes accidents do occur, and federal acts have provided for ways tugboat workers can recover for the cost of their injuries.

The dangerous conditions tugboats provide can often lead to a variety of injuries. However, workers will be able to recover a set amount from their employer after any accident occurs, with the assistance of an experienced maritime law attorney. The details of the accident will dictate what federal act the injury may be brought within, but rest assured that provisions have been put into place to compensate you for any injuries received while on the job as well as ongoing recovery time. Many compensation claims will allow the worker to continue to receive a weekly salary at a reduced percentage, thereby assisting the injured worker during this time.

The Jones Act covers claims brought by seaman and crewmembers injured while on the high seas, provided that the seaman is at sea for 30 percent of the time. An experienced maritime law attorney will assist you in preparing your maritime claim, in addition to calculating the amount of damages you are entitled to receive.

If you or a loved one have been injured while onboard a tugboat, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling all types of maritime law cases and will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for any injuries you received while onboard the tugboat or as the result of a tugboat collision. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation.