Working in the Maine maritime industry is dangerous, where workers contend with rough winter waters, cold weather, and the usual hazards. If you are injured on the job, let a Maine maritime lawyer help you determine your next move. You should be able to get money to cover doctors’ bills and make up for your lost income, but doing so isn’t always easy without a lawyer’s expertise.
Maine’s Maritime Industry
Maine is probably best known for its rugged coastline, along which there are several ports. The main ports in the state are those in Portland, Searsport, and Eastport, but there are also several minor ports dotting the coastline. There are a few inland in places like Bucksport and Bangor.
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The Maine Port Authority runs the major cargo and container ports here, but other critical maritime industries exist in the ports, like commercial fishing, ferries, and cruises.
The Ports of Maine
The Maine Port Authority manages the state’s three largest ports at Portland, Eastport, and Searsport. The coast of Maine is rugged, and the weather can be brutal in the winter, but the Port of Portland is well protected from the worst of rough waters and weather and remains ice-free all year. Along with shipping and cargo, this port supports recreational boats, fishing boats, ferries, and cruise lines. It is New England’s largest port and the second-largest oil port on the east coast.
Eastport Port Authority
Right on the international border with Quebec is the Eastport Port Authority. It is a small but essential port with two tugboats, two terminals with berthing space for ships up to 900 feet long, and a U.S. Customs office.
Recreational boats, commercial fishing boats, and aquaculture facilities call this northern port home. Major exports from Eastport include wood pulp and dairy cows.
Port of Searsport
At the head of Penobscot Bay is the Port of Searsport, the second-largest deep-water port in the state. The port handles all kinds of cargo and includes specialized piers for dry and wet cargo.
Crude oil is a vital cargo here, and this is also the location of the start of a major oil pipeline. With cargo shipping, Searsport has space for recreational and commercial fishing vessels.
Port of Portland
Portland has nine terminals that handle various types of cargo. Some of the most common cargo accepted here include containers, bulk and break bulk, project, and petroleum. Portland has one large international terminal.
Maine’s Maritime Accidents
Maine’s ports may not be the biggest or busiest in the country, but they are still dangerous workplaces. The waters off the coast are also dangerous here, and both longshoremen and seamen in the area face many hazards on the job.
Maine also has a long history of maritime activity, which means accidents have been numerous. Some accidents occur in the ports, while others occur out at sea. Commercial fishing, an important industry, is the most hazardous of all maritime sectors.
Commercial Fishing Accidents
One example of such dangers occurred in February of 2012 when a fishing vessel sank off the coast of Maine. Only two crew members were on the vessel at the time, and they were both working on draining water from fish tanks when the accident happened.
A pipe broke, and the boat began to flood. The captain and deckhand could not control the flooding, and the boat went down ten nautical miles off the coast. Luckily both people were rescued and uninjured in the incident, but it could have been much worse and had a tragic ending.
Collisions
Another common source of accidents in any port area is a collision. When ships come in and out of ports, it can get crowded and difficult to navigate. One tiny error can lead to a crash, a vessel running aground, or even capsizing.
In 2013 an oil tanker crashed into the Mildred Long Bridge connecting Maine and New Hampshire. Investigations found that a crucial component in the ship had not been replaced and could be blamed for the accident.
Thankfully no one was hurt in the incident, and no oil was spilled, but the damage to the bridge cost millions of dollars to repair.
Legal Resources for Maine Maritime Workers
Accidents like these always have the potential to be more tragic and cause injuries and even deaths. You face these daily hazards if you work in the maritime industry here in Maine.
Fortunately, there are laws to ensure you get adequate compensation if you are hurt on the job or money for your family if you are killed. Federal laws like the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act are there to protect seamen working on ships and the people working in ports if employers refuse to pay up after an accident.
If you are ever injured in your maritime work, relying on a seasoned professional who knows these laws backward and forwards is essential.
Maine maritime lawyers are ready and available to help guide you through the often-complicated and time-sensitive processes of filing claims, avoiding missing deadlines, starting lawsuits, arbitrations, and even going to trial. Let these experts help you so you can get everything you deserve after a life-changing accident.