Photo Gallery and Maritime Disasters “C/V HYUNDAI FORTUNE of fire in the Gulf of Aden. On the very day that the C/V HYUNDAI FORTUNE caught fire and exploded, the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit published its decision in a…

Salvage The concept of marine salvage has been recognized by the law since the times of Byzantine Empire. Unlike land based volunteer acts to save property, the person who saves property at sea is entitled to a reward which is generously computed…

Ciguatera Ciguatera fish poisoning is endemic wherever coral reef fishes are a food source. In South Florida, this includes the local coral reef fishing grounds as well as all of the Caribbean. It is the most frequently reported seafood-related…

Boating Citations During the Lobster Mini Season of July 28 through August 1, 2003, the FWC documented 109 resource citations, 19 other citations, 87 Uniform Boating Citations, 356 boating safety warnings, 234 resource warnings, 27 other warnings,…

Cargo Claims-Carriage of Goods by Sea Act The bulk of maritime commercial activity involves carriage of goods. The most important document used in this type of transaction is the bill of lading. A bill of lading is basically a contract of carriage….

The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Act Modern cruise vessels are best viewed as floating hotels that transport their guests from exotic port to exotic port where the passengers stay a few hours for shopping, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing…

Construction and emergency service projects can ill afford to become bogged down by legal concerns. Our attorneys have experience and proficiency in construction law and also experience working with contractors, builders, emergency service providers,…

The Death on the High Seas Act When a seaman dies as a result of an employer’s negligence or because of an unseaworthy vessel, the worker’s family may file for benefits under the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA). The incident must occur on the…

Diving Accidents and Diving Laws All aspects of Maritime activities have their own special laws and Scuba and free diving are no exception. Besides the complexities of Maritime law and how these laws apply to divers, there are a number of other…

Seaman’s Claims and The Jones Act Although the Jones Act is similar to workers’ compensation, it is different in many regards and is not well understood by vessel owners and insurance companies. It does not require payment regardless of fault. In…