In late January, on a cruise ship carrying 7,000 passengers and crew, a Chinese national became ill. Fears of coronavirus lead to the ship’s quarantine in a port near Rome, Italy, until a medical team found the woman had a case of the common flu.It was another...
Personal Injury
International waters signal freedom and controversy
Millions of people from all walks of life take part in cruises each year. While some take part in the serenity and peace that the open waters provide, others take advantage of the mostly good-natured but sometimes illegal debauchery and freedom that international...
Does an occupational disease qualify for benefits from the LHWCA?
As a longshoreman or harbor worker, you work long hours in less-than-ideal conditions. Yet, you love working with your hands and being outside on the water. You are not the type of person who could sit behind a desk all day. You enjoy your job, but there is no denying...
The not so glamorous life of working on a cruise ship
People imagine that working on a cruise ship is filled with fun, entertainment and exhilarating world travel. When job-seekers sign contracts to work on these vessels they are suddenly thrown into a much harsher reality. Many cruise ships push their crewmembers to the...
Three companies sued over seaman’s amputated foot
There is no question that working on a ship is dangerous. Ropes that contain thousands of pounds of pressure, heavy equipment that needs to be moved, slippery decks, narrow stairwells and deep tanks all pose risks of injury to those who work aboard. While some...
What are the symptoms of frostbite?
Working on a fishing boat is not easy. You have to continuously deal with heavy equipment, rough seas, slippery decks and bad weather. While other New Yorkers often spend their winter days in warm buildings, you must brave the cold while hauling in crab, lobster,...
Identifying the signs of lead poisoning
Working around a ship can expose people to a number of toxins and one of these is lead. In a previous post, it was discussed how New Yorkers working in a shipyard could be inhaling lead particles while performing routine maintenance. Therefore, it is important for...
Pool accident leaves child on cruise ship in serious condition
Taking a cruise is viewed by many New Yorkers as the ideal way to escape their everyday stresses and the industry is booming. As cruise ships grow in size with more cabins, waterslides, rock walls, dance clubs, restaurants and other features, the risk of passenger...
Royal Caribbean facing first lawsuits after storm disaster
Several weeks ago we wrote a blog post about the Royal Caribbean cruise ship the Anthem of the Seas which, as you may know from news reports, was caught in a storm last month that caused damage to the ship. Although reports at the time indicated that no one had...
Huge storms vs huge ships: Are cruise passengers in danger?
You may have read the news reports or even seen the videos, but what happened last week aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is difficult to imagine unless you were there. For hundreds of passengers aboard the cruise line's Anthem of the Seas, their vacations were...