Anyone working in the maritime industry is susceptible to injuries caused by accidents. Because of the nature of their work, officers are less likely than non-officers to be injured in maritime accidents, but they do still get hurt on the job. If you are an officer on any vessel, you have rights after suffering injuries.
Who Are Ship Officers?
A ship’s crew is ranked and includes officers and non-officers (also known as ratings). Officers are the leaders of the vessel. The number of officers on a vessel depends on the size and number of crew members.
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The highest-ranking officer on any ship is the captain. The captain is the boss and leads the entire crew. They are responsible for decision-making, compliance, and the safe operation of the vessel. Depending on the size of the ship and crew, the captain may have first, second, and third officers, also known as mates. They supervise lower-ranking officers and crew members.
Various departments on a ship also have higher-ranking officers and ratings. For instance, the head of the engineering department is the chief engineer. The head of the deck department is the first mate or first officer. Not all departments have officers.
What Are the Dangers of Maritime Jobs for Officers?
Ship officers are leaders and do not do as much hands-on work as non-officer crew members. This means they avoid some of the risks and hazards on the job. This pans out in research, which shows that non-officers suffer significantly more injuries and are more likely to die than officers in maritime incidents.
Despite this discrepancy, officers still face dangers on the job. Some of the more common incidents or accidents that can lead to officer injuries include:
- Trips and falls
- Falls overboard
- Weather and rough water accidents
- Cargo accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Equipment accidents
- Assaults
These accidents can cause a variety of injuries, from bone fractures to head injuries to burns. Causes may include poor decision-making, inadequate training, or faulty equipment.
What if the Officer Is Negligent in an Accident?
Many accidents and injuries in the maritime industry result from preventable mistakes, which means negligence is often involved. While a lower-ranking crew member could be negligent in an accident, the blame will likely go to an officer or the company that owns the ship. Officers and employers are responsible for creating safe work environments on ships.
If you have been accused of negligence in a maritime accident, you could face fines, criminal charges, or lawsuits brought by the injured parties. It’s important that officers take all necessary steps to protect their crew, or they could face serious charges.
Examples of Officer Accidents
These examples of real accidents that resulted in injuries or fatalities show that the job of a maritime officer involves risks and dangers.
Second Officer Fatality
An extreme example of the dangers of working as an officer occurred when a second mate died from serious injuries sustained in a fall. A ship was proceeding to its berth in the harbor. Crew members removed hatch covers before berthing, a common practice for this ship. The second officer fell 8.5 meters into an empty hold and died from the resulting head injury.
The incident report found several preventable factors contributing to the fatality. Safety barriers, better lighting, and communication between crew members could have prevented the accident.
Foot Fracture
Another incident resulted in significant injuries to a captain piloting a ship in the Port Corpus Christi Ship Channel in Texas in 2016. The pilot and captain tripped over a stair in a hatch door on the ship. He rolled his ankle and suffered foot fractures. He later developed complex regional pain syndrome that prevented him from working.
The captain sued the ship’s owner and operator, arguing that they were negligent in not providing adequate lighting near the hatch. He won his case and was awarded $11 million due to the vessel’s unseaworthiness.
Fatal Lightning Strike
An unfortunate fatality in Florida in 2023 illustrates how dangerous maritime can be for all workers, including officers. The captain of a boat died after lightning struck it. Members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tried to resuscitate the captain, but he could not be revived. A passenger suffered injuries.
Weather is a risk to all maritime workers, regardless of their position. In this case, it is unclear whether better decision-making by the captain would have prevented the incident. Captains are responsible for making decisions about weather and when it is safe or unsafe to operate.
What to Do After a Maritime Accident
If you work as a ship officer and suffer injuries on the job, contact a maritime lawyer. You likely qualify to receive compensation under maritime laws like maintenance and cure. If negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to sue for damages under the Jones Act.
A maritime lawyer can help you determine which laws apply and the best steps to take to get compensation for medical and other expenses. If you are being accused of negligence in an accident, a maritime lawyer can help defend you against lawsuits or fines.