Injured Working Aboard a Vessel Owned by Trident Seafoods?
Trident Seafoods is the largest Alaska fishing company, employing more that 4,000 people each year to work aboard their vessels and at their shore-side plants. Trident’s fish products include pollock, cod, halibut, rock fish, sole, and salmon. Trident owns one of the largest and extensive fleets of fishing vessels in the United States, including factory trawlers, crab boats, tenders, and fish processors. Crewmen working aboard these vessels are Jones Act Seamen covered by Federal Maritime laws.
Compensation for Injuries Aboard Ship
Unfortunately, crewmen working for even the best fishing companies sometimes are seriously injured through negligence or unseaworthiness. When these accidents happen, crewmen are entitled to compensation under the Jones Act and Federal Maritime Law. Maritime laws are very complex and very different from state workers compensation benefits. It is important to understand your rights to fair compensation when you have been injured. If your accident happened as the result of negligence or unseaworthiness, you may be entitled to damages for lost wages, lost earning capacity, past and future pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement, and medical expenses. In almost all cases, a crewman is entitled to receive maintenance, cure, and unearned wages. You are entitled to choose your own doctor for treatment, and should receive a daily living allowance until you have reached maximum medical improvement.
Trident owns three large factory trawlers that fish in Alaska for pollock and off the coasts of Washington and Oregon for Pacific whiting. The Seattle Enterprise, Island Enterprise, and Kodiak Enterprise, have crews of approximately 123 deckhands and fish processors that qualify as Jones Act Seamen. The vessels are home-ported in Seattle.
Trident also has a large fleet of catcher trawlers that fish principally for pollock and cod in Alaska. These vessels carry a crew of 5-6 and range in size from 100-165 feet. Some of these vessels are Aldebaran, Arcturus, Columbia, Dominator, Gladiator, Golden Dawn, Majesty, Northern Patriot, Pacific Viking, Sovereignty, and Viking Explorer. Trident also owns five Alaska crab boats including the Barbara J, Billikin, Farwest Leader, Royal Viking, and Southern Wind.
Fish Processing vessels owned by Trident include the Alaska Packer, Aleutian Falcon, Arctic Enterprise, Bountiful, Independence, and Pribilof. These processing vessel are 230-330 feet in length and can typically carry a crews of 160-230 workers.
Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC is committed to representing injured fishermen and fish processors. They understand your jobs, your injuries, and how those injuries will impact you the rest of your life. They know how accidents aboard fishing vessels happen and how those accidents can be prevented. They are always on the side of the injured fisherman and fish processor. They do not represent Trident Seafoods or their insurance company. If you have been seriously injured and need help getting fair compensation for your injuries, contact a maritime lawyer at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC for a free initial consultation.