Maritime law is a unique subset of federal and state law which provides recovery for employees who work aboard seafaring vessels. One such vessel is a crew boat, which serves the important role of transporting crew to and from their job sites. If you or a loved one have been injured while onboard a crew boat, you may be able to recovery for your injuries under one of the applicable federal acts.

A crew boat serves an important role in the offshore business, and transports crew, cargo, and supplies to and from offshore oil platforms and drilling rigs. Crew boats operate on a variety of waterways, such as bays, sounds, inland waterways. Many crew boats often work on platforms up to 200 miles offshore. The length of a crew boat will dictate the size. Crew boats which work primarily in smaller inland waterways will typically range from 30-60 feet, while crew boats which travel extensively offshore may be up to 200 feet long.

The main responsibility of crew boats is often to transport crew to and from the offshore installation. Crew boats can typically hold between 50-100 passengers at any given time. If a sudden collision occurs during the transport of workers, the workers will be eligible to recover for their injuries under various federal acts.

Over time, the United States Congress has enacted various federal acts which work together to provide an avenue for all sailors, seaman, and crew members to receive compensation for any injuries which occur while on various navigable waterways. These acts were put into place after accidents occurred in the early twentieth century, and the crew members were unable to recover under traditional workers’ compensation avenues. Therefore, federal acts such as the Jones Act and the Death on the High Seas Act were developed to ensure that workers and their families were adequately compensated after devastating accidents.

It is not an easy job to be constantly on the high seas, away from family. These crew members must be highly experienced and know where to turn if a tense situation arises. Most vessels are subject to the whims of the weather, which is when many accidents can occur. An experienced maritime accident attorney will be able to better advise you regarding your claim after a crew boat accident and can assist you in calculating the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive after your injury.

If you have been injured in a crew boat accident or while onboard a crew boat, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Tony Malley is an experienced maritime attorney who has handled maritime claims relating to crew boat injuries. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation.