The Facts About Liftboat Accidents and Injuries
Every day in the Gulf of Mexico, thousands of maritime workers put in long hours performing some of the world’s most dangerous jobs. From oil rigs to tug boats, freighters, and massive fishing boats, these jobs all have one thing in common; the constant risk of injury or death.
One of them that’s particularly risky is working on a liftboat. In fact, in the last decade, several liftboats have encountered a similar fate.
What Exactly is a Liftboat?
A liftboat is a floating platform used to repair oil rigs, install wind turbines, and many other massive maritime tasks. You’ll find them wherever a stable platform is needed on the often turbulent Gulf.
Liftboats are massive ships, usually hundreds of feet long. When they arrive at their destination, they sink gigantic legs into the sea and then slowly lift their entire platform out of the water onto those legs. (It’s quite a sight to see.)
Why is Working on a Liftboat Risky?
Here’s the thing; like any other seagoing vessel, liftboats can, and sometimes do, sink. When they do, they can sink very rapidly, causing some workers to drown. Others are left in frigid waters for hours, slowly succumbing to hypothermia.
Then there’s the fact that liftboats carry massive equipment and cranes, The risk of injury or death if, for example, the liftboat is caught in a storm, is high.
The riskiest part about liftboats, however, is that they can quickly become unstable. That’s because they put their gigantic feet and legs onto shifting, muddy Gulf Coast seafloor. If the correct procedure isn’t followed, catastrophe can strike and put many lives in danger, as we’ll see in a moment.
When a liftboat becomes unstable, there is the possibility that the boat will capsize. When a liftboat capsizes, it flips over and can trap the crew and keep them submerged underwater. A liftboat capsize like any vessel capsize, is a terrifying proposition for a sailor and his or her family.
The NTSB Found that Liftboat Industry Practices are Unsound
While the cause of the most recent liftboat accident is still to be determined, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the cause of a 2018 liftboat accident in the Gulf; faulty industry practices.
The NTSB found that liftboat operators are regularly not provided with adequate information about the seafloor composition. Even worse, they found this to be an industry practice, meaning that they knew it could cause accidents like the one that occurred but still failed to give operators the proper information.
In the 2018 case, the NTSB surmised that one of the liftboat’s legs became unstable. That, in turn, caused it to topple and overturn.
What If You’ve Been Injured in a Liftboat Accident?
As a maritime worker on a liftboat, you’re covered by the Jones Act if you are injured, hospitalized, etc. You would be eligible for benefits and compensation, and, in the event of your death, your family would also be.
If you’ve been injured on a liftboat working out of Louisiana, call The Mahone Firm right away for a free no-obligation legal consultation. Offshore and maritime injury lawyer Mike Mahone is experienced in the Jones Act and maritime law and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call (504) 564-7342 for a free consultation today.
