Crewmember Hurt When Cruise Ship Strikes Cable Near the Faroe Islands

Earlier this month, an employee working aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas cruise ship was hurt when the vessel came into contact with a cable near the Faroe Islands, an archipelago governed by Denmark. At the time of the incident, the ship was reportedly sailing into the port of Klaksvik as part of a 16-day Transatlantic trip from Harwich, England to Boston, Massachusetts. Initially, the injured worker was treated on the ship. Later, he was reportedly transported to a local hospital for his injuries.

The crewmember was reportedly hurt by a piece of falling debris after a cable that connects the Bordoy and Eysturoy Islands struck the ship’s mast. The accident also allegedly damaged other ship equipment such as vessel navigation lights. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean, Cynthia Martinez, stated the damage in no way affected the seaworthiness of the Jewel of the Seas. According to Martinez, the vessel has visited the same port without incident in the past. Royal Caribbean is reportedly working hard to understand why the accident occurred. Martinez said information from port authorities indicated the Jewel of the Seas had enough clearance to sail beneath the cable.

In the United States, workers who are employed on a ship or other marine vessel are protected by different laws than workers who are employed on land. The Jones Act provides employees who are hurt or killed while working at sea with a cause of action against their employer. Normally, a Jones Act claim will focus on an act of negligence allegedly committed by an employer or a marine vessel’s lack of seaworthiness. To file a Jones Act claim, a ship or other vessel must be flying the U.S. flag, and the injured employee or other crewmember must qualify as a seaman as defined under the law. Jones Act claims can be complicated. You should contact a capable maritime lawyer if you were injured while working on a ship.

Although no passengers were reportedly hurt in this instance, the injuries sustained by passengers who are traveling on a cruise ship are also subject to a different set of laws than those that would apply if an injury took place on land. Additionally, cruise ship passengers are bound by the contract provisions of their cruise ticket. The time frame during which a cruise ship traveler may file a personal injury claim is generally quite limited. If you were hurt while traveling as a passenger on a cruise ship, an experienced maritime law attorney can explain your rights and help you file your case.

Call Seattle Maritime Attorneys John Merriam and Gordon Webb toll free at 877.800.1007 if you were hurt while working or traveling on a cruise ship. Our dedicated Seattle maritime lawyers have almost 50 years of combined experience helping the victims of injuries that were sustained at sea receive the compensation they deserve. Mr. Merriam and Mr. Webb handle cruise ship passenger and employee injury cases that originated throughout the world including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bering Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Alaska. To speak with a skilled maritime law attorney today, please do not hesitate to contact lawyers John Merriam and Gordon Webb through the law firm’s website.

Additional Resources:

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Hits Cable; Crewmember Injured, by Dori Saltzman, cruisecritic.co.uk