Learn about recent news in the maritime law industry by reading the following blog articles from
BoatLaw, LLP. Attorney Nick Neidzwski and Doug Williams are experienced in practicing admiralty and maritime law, including representation for Jones Act cases and for those injured at sea. BoatLaw serves the entire Pacific Coast including Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.
Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: What Are the Legal Consequences?

Baltimore Bridge Collapse On March 26, a 200-million pound cargo vessel slammed into the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing a total collapse and sending multiple cars into the Patapsco River. Six people are believed to be dead while another person is believed to be in critical condition at a local trauma center….

March 28, 2024

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Supreme Court

Choice-of-Law Provisions and Presumptive Enforcement

Great Lakes Insurance SE v. Raiders Retreat Realty – Maritime Law in the Supreme Court The Supreme Court is asked to review thousands of cases every year, and few of those make it to our highest court. Maritime law is a specialized area of law, so having a case that affects maritime law reach the…

March 21, 2024

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Family of Four Rescued From Alaskan Island on Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve, a 50-year-old mother and her three children (ages 21, 17, and 13) were aboard a 15-foot vessel when it capsized off the west coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska.  At 2300 hours, a friend reported to the United States Coast Guard that the family’s vessel was overdue to return.   Coast Guard…

February 21, 2024

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Holland America and Princess Cruises Cancel Alaska Voyages Scheduled for Early 2021 Due to Pandemic

Signaling that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to impact Alaska’s tourist season, Holland America and Princess Cruises have announced that they will cancel several sailings in 2021. Carnival Corp. brands Princess Cruises and Holland America issued statements Wednesday that rules imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and uncertainty around travel restrictions prompted…

February 21, 2024

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Captain of D/V CONCEPTION Indicted for Criminal Seaman Manslaughter in 2020

D/V CONCEPTION caught fire and sank off the coast of California in 2019.  The incident killed 34 people.  On December 1, 2020, the captain of the Vessel was indicted on federal manslaughter charges under The Seaman’s Manslaughter Statute, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1115. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, the captain…

February 21, 2024

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New Fire Safety Requirements for Small Passenger Vessels Included in the National Defense Authorization Act (FY2021)

In the wake of the deadly fire aboard D/V CONCEPTION in September 2019, lawmakers have advanced a new fire safety bill for small passenger vessels, the Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act.  The legislation was proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representatives Salud Carbajal and Julia Brownley.  It was rolled into the National Defense Authorization Act…

February 21, 2024

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Deadly F/V SCANDIES ROSE Sinking Lawsuit to Settle Out of Court

The owners of F/V SCANDIES ROSE report that they have resolved lawsuits with two surviving crewmembers and the families of four mariners who died during the December 2019 incident.  The crab fishing vessel was managed out of Washington State and sank near Sutwik Island, Alaska.  The case reportedly settled out of court for more than…

February 21, 2024

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Tulalip Police Officer Missing After Capsizing Incident in Washington

According to the KIRO 7 News Staff, on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, two police officers were aboard a Tulalip Police Department Fisheries vessel assisting another boat when the police vessel capsized just before 9 p.m.  Both officers were sent into the water as a result.  One officer, wearing a life jacket, was rescued at 11:45…

February 21, 2024

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