Accidents Involving Cruise Ship Crew Members on the Rise

For many people, expectations of a carefree vacation at sea too often clash head-on with calamity and disappointment. Recent malfunctions on cruise ships have brought bad publicity to the cruise industry and some industry experts are opining that more and more accidents are taking place, putting passengers and crew members in danger.

Recently, a lifeboat aboard a ship operated by the British holiday firm Thompson Cruises fell upside down into the sea on the island of La Palma. This accident left five crew members of the British-operated cruise ship dead. The lifeboat fell into the sea during a routine life boat drill, leaving the 5 men trapped underwater.

Three of the dead were Indonesian, one was Filipino and another was from Ghana, authorities said. There were also three injured men taken to a nearby hospital.

What Caused the Accident?

The Port Authority of the Canary Islands reported that a cable snapped during a drill that involved the lowering of a lifeboat with five crew members onboard. Once the life boat began to swing free, a hook securing a second cable to the boat's bow, also broke due to excessive torque following the severance of the first cable. Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch made a statement to the effect that "safety tests on lifeboats are a significant source of accidents". Is enough being done to safeguard the crewmembers who have to man these drills? Statistics suggest that unfortunately the answer is no.

Are Crew Members, or Their Families, Compensated for Such Incidents?

Fortunately, if crew members are injured aboard most of the major cruise ship company ships (NCL, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity, Princess) claims can be brought in Miami, Florida to get them compensation for injuries sustained due to Jones Act Negligence and Unseaworthiness. Claims can also be brought should the cruise ship companies fail to provide prompt medical care for their crew and maintenance and cure.

Ship board workers have rights. If you or someone you love is a cruise ship crew member that has been injured while on the job, contact Miami, FL personal injury attorney Robert Gross at 305-793-5526 to discuss your case.