The maritime industry in any state is dangerous and often causes worker accidents and injuries. You can seek damages to cover medical and other expenses if you were hurt in a maritime accident. Rely on a New Hampshire maritime lawyer to help you navigate the legal system.
New Hampshire’s Maritime Industry
The Port at the city of Portsmouth is New Hampshire’s only port near the mouth of the Pistacagua River. It lies close to Maine, just across the state line on the other side of the river.
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Despite the northern location, this port stays ice-free throughout the winter and serves year-round cargo and container ships, cruise lines, fishermen, and recreational boaters.
Portsmouth is not just the site of an important harbor and port; it’s also the state’s earliest settlement and capital. The first village settled here on the river in 1630; the port is a dynamic recreational center and a historical site visited by tourists.
The Port at Portsmouth is officially known as the Port of New Hampshire. The main terminal handles bulk, break bulk, containers, and project cargo. This is the only public terminal in the port that handles general cargo.
The port is a designated Foreign Trade Zone with international ships entering the harbor. In addition to the cargo terminal, there are private terminals, docking for commercial fishing vessels, and several spots for recreational and passenger vessels. These include:
- Ferries
- Whale-watching boats
- Cruise ships
- Charter fishing boats
- Party fishing boats
The Dangers of Maritime Work
If you work in the Port of New Hampshire or on any of the many boats and ships that dock here, you have an exciting and lucrative job. It is also dangerous. Accidents in the maritime industry occur more often than in any other type of workplace.
Among the most hazardous maritime jobs is commercial fishing. Many commercial fishermen make Portsmouth their home base. If you are one of them, you face daily workplace hazards like:
- Falling overboard
- Vessel sinking or capsizing
- Hypothermia in bad weather
- Fishing equipment injuries
Other types of seamen also face daily hazards on the job. Cargo and container shipping can be dangerous at sea, where rough weather and waters can cause even these big ships to sink.
Even more of a risk at times is the cargo. When it isn’t stored correctly, shifts in the vessel can cause it to move and strike workers, causing serious injuries.
Collisions are often problematic for big ships, especially when entering and leaving ports. Even when navigated by skilled local pilots, the crowded waterways can be dangerous.
Workers in the port area also face serious dangers on the job. Ports like that at Portsmouth in New Hampshire are busy and crowded workplaces. There are a lot of big, moving parts that require equipment maintenance, worker training, and good communication to flow smoothly.
When these fail, cranes, forklifts, trucks, and cargo can become a significant hazard that injures or kills workers. Other dangers include falls into the water, falls into cargo holds on ships, falls from platforms, fires, electrical shocks, and exposure to toxic chemicals.
Port of New Hampshire Accidents
One major recent accident in Portsmouth was in 2013 when a ship struck and seriously damaged the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge.
A tanker carrying tallow oil had been docked and moored in the port when it broke free and drifted into the bridge. The large, 473-foot tanker was pulled upriver by a strong current, and although the crew did its best to use an anchor to stop the ship, the momentum was too great.
The damage to the bridge numbered millions of dollars, and it had to be closed for a significant time. The ship was also damaged, with a gash in its side, which amounted to about one million dollars in damage.
Both Maine and New Hampshire officials sued the ship’s owner for the damage to the bridge. No one was hurt in the incident.
After an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the fault was found to lie with the captain and pilot of the tanker. It was found that they did not correctly moor the ship to the dock considering the tidal conditions.
Legal Rights and Resources for New Hampshire Maritime Workers
Maritime workers have very specialized, skilled jobs that are more dangerous than those in many other industries. Federal maritime laws provide ways for workers to seek money after an incident to compensate for the added risk of death and injury on the job.
For instance, if you are injured on the job and can’t go back to work for several weeks, one of these laws should be an avenue for you to seek money for your medical bills and the lost wages until you can get back to work.
Not all employers are willing to pay the money that workers are owed after accidents, which is why these laws are in place to guarantee rights.
If you are a seaman working aboard a commercial fishing boat, a tanker, or a cargo ship, you may qualify for money under the Jones Act. This law allows you to sue your employer for the money you are owed after an accident as long as you can prove that negligence played a small role in the incident.
If you work in the port, you may qualify as a longshoreman under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. If you do, you can use this law to access a workers’ compensation program after an accident.
These laws also provide similar rights and benefits to your loved ones in the tragic event that you die on the job in New Hampshire. If your employer is unwilling to give you what you deserve, you may need to use these laws to fight back.
A New Hampshire maritime lawyer can be your greatest ally in this fight. Your lawyer can represent you, get wins for you in arbitration, and make sure you take all the right steps to avoid losing the money you need to get back on your feet and the job again.