- Offshore Rigs
- Ferries and Cruise Ships
- Commercial Fishing
- Research and Science
- Transportation and Shipping
- Government Positions
Each of these subcategories can contain like types of jobs, like maintenance positions, electricians, HVAC technicians, and so on. however, one key deviation is the type of working environments where job duties are performed .
Why Choose a Maritime Career?
In this day and age when entry-level positions can be hard to find, maritime careers have no shortages of opportunities. Unlike land-based jobs, seafaring positions offer numerous advantages, including :
- Higher Starting Wages
- Better Benefits
- Opportunities for Quick Advancement
- Working with a Close Group of People
- Travel Opportunities
- Adventure
- Outdoor Living
- Career Flexibility
- Ongoing Training and Skills Development
- A Sense of Pride in Individual and Group Accomplishments
- Job Security
- Easily Transferrable Job Skills
In summation, many nautical workers get longer vacation/holiday periods of paid time off work, compared to other land-based careers .
Know the Risks of Maritime Careers
evening with all the capital benefits a maritime career can offer, these types of positions are considered to have the highest risks out of all career types. Employees can be expected to work ten- to twelve-hour days, every day, without a day off for many months .
quite, employees in the nautical industry are given “ hours ” off in place of actual days off. Yet, many companies do offer the opportunity to earn entire days off by achieving some goal or objective. For exercise, in the cruise industry, cruise ship employees can earn days off by delivering outstanding customer avail to guests .
early likely risks found in nautical careers could include :
- Intensive Labor
- Ability to Lift Heavy Items and Objects
- High Pressure/High-Paced Environment
- Confined Living Spaces
- Increased Risks of Illnesses
- Periods of Seasickness
- Exhaustion
- Limited Access to Friends and Family While at Sea
- Errors/Mistakes Could Result in Injuries or Death
much, the combination of farseeing work hours, debilitation, and other such factors all contribute to employees making errors and mistakes. The extent of the error or mistake could have very serious consequences .
For case, one of the deadliest offshore vegetable oil rig accidents of all meter occurred in July 1988 aboard the Piper Alpha, in the North Sea of the United Kingdom. Dayshift sustenance personnel were performing convention heart alimony and had removed a coerce safety valve .
even, they failed to complete alimony and did not reinstall the base hit valve. There were besides some communication errors made that resulted in the night shift turning on the pump, even though alimony had not been completed. Without the guard valve, gas condensate leaked out and exploded. Out of the 226 workers onboard, merely 61 survived.1
even the cruise industry is not without its risks. More recently, there have been several cases where Carnival Cruise Ships have had problems while at sea, affecting both the gang and passengers alike. then, there was the case of the Costa Concordia embark that tipped over off the seashore of Italy in January 2012, due to navigating in too-shallow waters .
Be Prepared for Accidents and Personal Injuries
even though serious and dangerous accidents are not everyday occurrences, it is authoritative to be prepared for them. not all accidents in the nautical industry make headline news. If you decide to pursue a career in the nautical industry, you need to be mindful of other types of accidents and personal injuries which do occur, such as :
- Slips and Trips: Outdoor decks and stairs can get wet and slippery with oil.
- Falls: There is the potential to fall off the side of a ship or rig if the right safety equipment is not used. Falls can also occur inside the ship if safety rails and other barriers are not maintained.
- Injuries from Faulty Equipment: If the equipment is defective, it can lead to accidents and injuries.
- Back/Neck/Shoulder Injuries: Lifting or moving heavy items incorrectly could cause these types of injuries. Falling objects could also be a concern if they hit someone.
- Injuries from Lack of Training on Equipment/Procedures: Sometimes, things can be so hectic that employees are rushed through training or it is skipped entirely. Then they are expected to work in a specific area of the ship or rig for which they have not yet been trained.
- Understaffed Working Conditions: In some working environments, there may not be enough employees to complete the required work, which can lead to accidents.
- Coworkers Failing to Perform Specific Job Duties: You may rely on your coworkers to perform their job duties. Yet, if they do not, they could increase risks of causing injuries to you and other people.
What to Do When There Is an Accident
Should an accident causal agent personal injuries, there are specific procedures that must be followed. The demand procedures can vary from one career to the future, but, in general, the serve will include :
- Undergoing a medical examination and treatment.
- Filing an injury claim.
- Receiving worker benefits through Maintenance and Cure or other Maritime Acts.
- Providing a detailed account of how the accident occurred.
- Completing all prescribed treatment.
- Being released by a medical professional to return to work.
Why You Need a Maritime Lawyer and Should Never File a “DIY” Claim
It is crucial to keep in mind, things do not constantly go smoothly for injured nautical workers. They can face difficulties in having their claims approved for benefits or even have their employers outright refuse to pay .
When things go amiss, you will want to speak to a nautical lawyer arsenic soon as potential. It is highly recommended you constantly consult with one after receiving checkup care and treatment but before filing your injury claim .
The argue for this is that there are all sorts of Maritime Acts, including :
If you were to file your claim under the faulty act, there is the risk that you may not have time to refile your claim under the justly one late. Each act has a specific legislative act of limitations for filing, along with specific filing guidelines. If you miss these all-important deadlines, you can not claim ignorance .
deplorably, there have been cases in the by where maritime workers filed their claims on their own, only to find out they were not filed correctly. By the time they found out, it was beyond the permit time restrict to file under the compensate act .
These workers are left with alone the minimal compensation they received from Maintenance and Cure but no early added benefits. In cases where workers died, their families are left without any monetary compensation for the loss of their sleep together ones .
even if your title seems fairly simple and easy, without any need of seeking extra damages through one of the Maritime Acts, it is worthwhile to speak to a maritime lawyer to find out your legal rights and how to proceed with filing your claim. This advice can make a huge difference for you, should you decide to return to work in the maritime industry once your injuries are healed .
What to Do if You Want to Leave Your Seafaring Career
Exiting a seafaring career can be difficult. You are saying adieu to your family at sea that you have worked aboard every day for a long time. additionally, you will be home more frequently, and adjusting to being around family and friends can be evenly challenging .
many of the skills and cognition you gain while working in the nautical diligence are easily movable to working onshore. If you worked as an electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician onboard, you can easily find work in these careers on down .
aside from maintenance- and equipment-type oeuvre, you have your life experiences, excessively. For exemplar, if you worked on a cruise transport, you have traveled all around the world. You could use your cognition of diverse ports of call and countries to start your own change of location agency. On the other hand, if you worked on a fish vessel, you could use your cognition of pisces to open up a fresh fish commercialize.
ultimately, while the risks of working at ocean can outweigh the benefits you gain, it actually comes gloomy to what you want to do. By taking the clock time to consider different maritime careers and their risks, you can decide if the rewards are worth the risks .
In the event you are injured while working in the nautical diligence, remember to contact Maintenance and Cure, character of Schechter, Shaffer, & Harris, L.L.P., at 1-800-836-5830 to speak with a maritime lawyer. Our lawyers will help you make an educated decision about your case with professional, legal, and unblock advice .
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