Solid bulk cargo is any loose, unpackaged, and solid material that is uniform in composition and loaded directly into the cargo space of a ship. Coal, lumber, and grain are commonly carried forms of bulk cargo which each present their own risks for the ship,…
Water travel plays a critical role in how global commerce operates. With so many businesses transporting goods over water, and the ever-increasing presence of technology, there is a growing concern about how cell phone usage poses a serious safety hazard on ships. Several shipping accidents…
The Port of Houston is the lifeblood of the region, connecting the fourth largest city in the United States to the world. A sprawling complex, encompassing dozens of refineries and hundreds of terminals for gas, oil, and containers, the Port of Houston relies on a…
A maritime industry lawyer knows that the law of negligence determines the outcome of many maritime accident cases. Negligence occurs when a person fails to act with the degree of care expected of a reasonable person under similar circumstances. A lack of training is often…
The Jones Act, also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, applies to seamen in service of a vessel that operates in navigable waters. This means that people employed as land-based maritime workers – such as dock and harbor workers – do not…
The ever-increasing level of technology in the realm of artificial intelligence is sweeping into the territory of autonomous shipping. The latest beneficiaries of this technology include remotely-controlled vessels piloted by human controllers onshore, and autonomous ships. Developments with telecommunications, electronic sensors, and computing technologies have…
After reviewing numerous accidents that have occurred onboard container ships recently, the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) published a position paper that describes why container ships need better firefighting systems. The concern is that the existing firefighting capabilities on these vessels are insufficient to…
The shipping industry uses cranes for a variety of different purposes. Whenever there is an instance of crane failure on a vessel, the consequences can be disastrous for operators, ship owners, seafarers, and other ship employees. Although each instance of crane failure is unique, there…
After the sinking of the Titanic, several acts and laws were passed seeking to avoid another maritime catastrophe. With the passing of new policy, ships now had better safety procedures and construction, constant contact with others on the sea and coastal radio stations, and rightful…
Towing is one of the most common–and riskiest–maritime activities. Maritime towage accidents are frequent, as small but powerful tugboats move much larger ships in crowded harbors, tow oil platforms or barges laden with dangerous materials, and conduct risky salvage missions in the high seas. The…
Determining who caused a maritime collision is quite a bit different than if you were dealing with an auto collision. The rules of the road are clear and generally known by everyone legally allowed to drive. The rules and reality of navigating water are different…
If you got injured in an accident that occurred on a lake, federal maritime law might apply to your case instead of state liability laws. In such cases, you will need the assistance of an experienced Houston maritime lawyer. Federal maritime law, also known as…
Legislation has recently been introduced in the United States House of Representatives to aid in the training of the American maritime industry workforce through community colleges and maritime training centers. If passed, the bill could lead to an increase in the number of trained maritime…