As a retired disabled crabber, wonder how many other hands have been poorly treated by Pacific Claims Adjusters, All Alaskan Seafoods or Royal Sun Alliance Insurance or their companies. I think there is a huge number of maimed and maligned crabbers with a story or evidence to help file a case against these types for violating the Jones Act. And or pass new legislation to assist injured deckhands and their families while recovering or attempting to retrain for another career. Daily maintenance rates are too low, often denied, and insurance companies and boat owners practice medicine without a license.
I was injured this past summer working on a Great Lakes Freighter. We were loading at a circa 1911 built chute type Iron Ore Dock. I was actually on the dock apron moving mooring cables while we shifted the vessel. Mistakes were made and I ended up with some major shoulder injuries. This was in July and it is still under letigation. They finally decided to do surgery last month. The Jones act makes it hard to collect any compensation. All the shipping compnay cares about is getting the boat loaded, pumped, trimmed, and on its way to the mill in less than 8 hours. Trust me we sailors of the "Inland Seas" feel your pain.
I seen Great Lakes and Iron Ore and was wondering if you are talking about the "Big" Lake? Talk about a dangerous job! It is no picnic for the men on the iron ore ships I'm sure. I have a place in norther wi on the big lake and have been there when bad weather hit different times, being on land sent chills up my spine I can't imagine being out to sea in those rollers.
My last crab boat job was in Oregon during the spring for repairs. We were almost ready to return to Kodiak. A few items were rented to make the work easyer. I was told to finish up the clean up and return the items to the shop so we would not be charged extra rent. The boat owner and his drinking buddies left to down a few. I tied off most of the items and climbed the ladder to the dock. I had the rope in one hand and ladder in the other. I missed one rung on the ladder, and fell. I hit the side of the boat and into the water. I was lucky the main engine was shut down. I still remember the bottom side of the boat. As I came up, I yelled for anyone for help. Another Drinking buddy of the boss heard me and pulled me out of the water. I hurt some ribs and after more free work I was not taken North. The guy that took my spot was hurt on the trip north and never fished. I was told at Tax time not to report myself as a member of the crew and it would just be cash under the table. I was fined by the IRS and had to pay . Because I never claimed the medical expenses. What nice guys to work for. They had hundreds of thousands of dollars I never fished again.
Hello! I'm an attorney focusing on representatino of injured deckhands and fisherman offshore. I would be happy to discuss your situation with you if you want to contact me. My website will provide you with my contact information at Jones Act Attorney. Please also tell your friends and co-workers I'm available 24/7 to offer them FREE legal advice about their specific situations. Thanks! -----------
quote:
Originally posted by Kodiak811: My last crab boat job was in Oregon during the spring for repairs. We were almost ready to return to Kodiak. A few items were rented to make the work easyer. I was told to finish up the clean up and return the items to the shop so we would not be charged extra rent. The boat owner and his drinking buddies left to down a few. I tied off most of the items and climbed the ladder to the dock. I had the rope in one hand and ladder in the other. I missed one rung on the ladder, and fell. I hit the side of the boat and into the water. I was lucky the main engine was shut down. I still remember the bottom side of the boat. As I came up, I yelled for anyone for help. Another Drinking buddy of the boss heard me and pulled me out of the water. I hurt some ribs and after more free work I was not taken North. The guy that took my spot was hurt on the trip north and never fished. I was told at Tax time not to report myself as a member of the crew and it would just be cash under the table. I was fined by the IRS and had to pay . Because I never claimed the medical expenses. What nice guys to work for. They had hundreds of thousands of dollars I never fished again.
I used to be a ship cook on a salmon ship and I have seen how bad it can get that is why I love this show because I've seen it happen first hand and fear every day about all of there safety and return each season.
I've worked on inland towing vessels(towboats) for a total of 10 years.I've gone from green deckhand to experienced deckhand on line haul boats going up and down river,and in harbor boats,carried on to Grade D and Below Tankerman to Master 100 tons-Western Rivers in exactly four years which used to be the minimum time that a deckhand had to work before sitting at a USCG exam center for a wheelhouse license.I'm told it's now 18 months before you can sit for a license. If you work out here and don't know guys like "Three Fingers Roy","Burns Gilbert", or someone who has fallen and injured or even killed himself,you haven't been working on the river long enough to know anything. I know a guy last year who fell off the dock barge while unfacing the boat,hit the side of the boat on the way into the water and while he didn't break any bones,he did rip all the tendons out of his shoulder,swallow a quart or two of Mississippi River water and the impact knocked his heart out of synch enough that he had to spend 8 months off work while the doctors used a defibrillator to reset his heart rythmm.
Originally posted by Kodiak811: My last crab boat job was in Oregon during the spring for repairs. We were almost ready to return to Kodiak. A few items were rented to make the work easyer. I was told to finish up the clean up and return the items to the shop so we would not be charged extra rent. The boat owner and his drinking buddies left to down a few. I tied off most of the items and climbed the ladder to the dock. I had the rope in one hand and ladder in the other. I missed one rung on the ladder, and fell. I hit the side of the boat and into the water. I was lucky the main engine was shut down. I still remember the bottom side of the boat. As I came up, I yelled for anyone for help. Another Drinking buddy of the boss heard me and pulled me out of the water. I hurt some ribs and after more free work I was not taken North. The guy that took my spot was hurt on the trip north and never fished. I was told at Tax time not to report myself as a member of the crew and it would just be cash under the table. I was fined by the IRS and had to pay . Because I never claimed the medical expenses. What nice guys to work for. They had hundreds of thousands of dollars I never fished again.
Geez man, after all that and then to get fined on top of it all just sucks!
