Portland Maritime Lawyer

Many of the jobs needed to keep the Port of Portland running and on the ships that come in and out of the port are dangerous. You may be injured in an accident if you work in any of these maritime jobs. If you do, Portland maritime lawyers can help you get the money you need to get back on your feet.

What Does a Portland Maritime Lawyer Do?

A Portland maritime lawyer specializes in maritime law and represents people involved in maritime accidents in and around Portland, Oregon. They often work with maritime workers who have been injured on the job. They help maritime workers navigate the legal system and get compensation for medical and other expenses.

The Port of Portland

Many ships set sail from the coast of Oregon, setting out to fish and crab, to send containers overseas, or to take tourists out for travel and recreation. One of the largest and busiest ports in the country is the Port of Portland.

Several terminals are here from the coast along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Millions of tons of cargo move through the port every year, including a significant portion of international cargo. The port is connected to trains that move cargo out and in to be dispersed or put on ships.

To get to the port, ships must navigate the treacherous Columbia River bar, where the rough waters of the river meet the ocean’s currents.

The port is also home to tourist vessels, riverboats, and cruise ships that take passengers up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers or stop here on the way to Seattle and Alaska.

Other recreational boats, from recreational fishing tour boats to whale-watching cruises, also come into port in Portland. All these different kinds of ships and industries make their way into this critical port daily and contribute to the number of people who must be employed to keep it all running.

Examples of Maritime Accidents in Portland

Working in any position and maritime industry location means facing daily hazards. If you work on a ship, you risk:

• Falling overboard
• Being exposed to toxic cargo
• Ship fires
• Strikes from equipment, including winches and fish processing equipment.

If you work in the port, you also face similar risks, like:

• Falling into the water
• Being injured by the enormous cranes that lift cargo on and off ships
• Being hit by the trucks and forklifts that crisscross the port

Many ship and port accidents are preventable with greater care, training, and equipment maintenance. 

One example occurred in 2013 when a 600-ton crane collapsed and fell in the port. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although rescue teams were called in if someone had been trapped under the crane.

Another example of an accident that occurred in the area happened in 2008. A tourist boat that took passengers up and down the Columbia River caught fire. Passengers and crew were rescued, but a crew member suffered mild injuries from hypothermia.

It is not uncommon for people to go overboard when a boat catches fire, which can lead to exposure injuries and even drownings. In this case, lives were saved because the boat owner had installed a fire alarm system, but a failure in the engine that caused the fire could have been prevented.

In 2023, a generator on a cruise ship in Portland exploded, causing a fire. One employee suffered burns in the incident, but no one else was hurt.

Portland’s River Bar Pilots

Of all the maritime jobs workers do in the Portland area, the river bar pilot position is by far the most dangerous and accident-prone.

These highly skilled workers control ships going in and out of port to navigate the dangerous waters of the Columbia River bar. The bar is an area where a river meets ocean currents, and it always results in hazardous waters, but the bar of the Columbia River is the roughest in the world.

River bar pilots must be master pilots, trained for years to navigate these rough waters in dangerous weather. Even with all their training, pilots are often victims of bad weather and rough waters.

For example, in 2006, a pilot fell from a ladder while moving from the pilot boat to the ship to be navigated through the bar. This is a common but difficult maneuver for bar pilots. Although this pilot had been wearing his safety gear, he quickly became lost in the waves and could not be rescued. This is one of too many examples of fatal accidents in the maritime industry.

In a similar example, another bar pilot was luckier. She fell into a similar situation, moving from a ship she had successfully piloted back to the pilot vessel using a ladder that was tricky and risky to navigate.

She could be rescued immediately, even though it was nighttime and dark. Accidents are common when it comes to river bar piloting, even when all precautions are taken. It is a job that can lead to tragedy with even the smallest mistakes or errors in judgment.

Working With Portland Maritime Lawyers

Working in the maritime industry anywhere is dangerous. However, working in the Port of Portland or on a ship that regularly comes into the port carries risks exacerbated by mistakes and negligence.

Whether you can pinpoint blame for an accident you experienced on the job or not, you are entitled to the money that will help you get medical treatment and get back to work.

As a seaman, you can count on the Jones Act to ensure you can seek compensation from your employer when negligence is involved.

On the other hand, if you work in the port area, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act may help you get money.

Regardless of your situation, figuring out where to turn next and how to get the money you need can be confusing. Instead of trying to do it on your own, you can and should rely on the professional experience of a maritime lawyer in Portland.

This is someone knowledgeable about the laws and has the expertise to help you file claims, win compensation from arbitrations, or even go to trial as your representation.