Aleutian Spray Fisheries Maritime Injury Claims

Established in 1969, family-owned and operated Aleutian Spray Fisheries has been a leader in the commercial fishing industry for over 40 years. Based in Seattle, Washington, Aleutian Spray Fisheries harvests Alaskan Pollock, Pacific Cod, and crab in the Bering Sea and waters off the Alaskan Coast.

The company has a fleet of six vessels, including:

• C/P Starbound,
• F/V Siberian Sea,
• F/V/ U.S. Liberator,
• F/V Kiska Sea,
• F/V Nordic Star, and
• F/V Muir Milach.

Working as a commercial fisherman for Aleutian Spray Fisheries is a dangerous and physically demanding job. Injuries happen, even on the vessels of established fishing companies, like Aleutian Spray Fisheries. Unlike most employees injured at work who are entitled to workers’ compensation, seamen have special rights under maritime law. The three primary avenues of recovery for employees injured on commercial fishing vessels are: 1) maintenance and cure, 2) the doctrine of unseaworthiness, and 3) the Jones Act.

Aleutian Spray Fisheries is required to pay maintenance and cure to seamen who are injured while working on their vessels. Maintenance is compensation for daily living expenses, and cure covers all reasonable and necessary medical costs. Your employer must pay maintenance and cure until you are fit to return to work or a doctor determines that no further medical treatment will help you recover. Injured Aleutian Spray employees are entitled to maintenance and cure benefits no matter who was at fault for the injury.

Seamen injured on Aleutian Spray Fisheries vessels may also be entitled to compensation under the doctrine of unseaworthiness, which requires the company to provide its seamen with a vessel that is seaworthy. Seaworthy means that the vessel, its equipment, parts, and crew are reasonably fit for their intended use. Some examples of unseaworthiness include worn-out equipment or fixtures, improperly designed equipment, and lack of proper warnings. The duty to provide a seaworthy vessel is absolute. This means that seamen do not need to prove negligence to recover under the doctrine of unseaworthiness.

The Jones Act is a federal statute that allows injured seamen to sue their employers based on negligence. Under the Jones Act, Aleutian Spray Fisheries owes its employees a reasonably safe workplace and must use reasonable care to prevent injuries to the crew. There is a relatively low burden of proof under the Jones Act. Even if Aleutian Spray Fisheries only played the smallest part in causing the seamen’s injury, they can still be held liable under the Jones Act. The damages available under the Jones Act are extensive, and in most cases, greater than what an employee would recover under workers’ compensation.

Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC is a nationally recognized leader in maritime personal injury law. Kraft Davies has significant experience representing injured seamen against Aleutian Spray Fisheries. We understand the fishing industry and know how to get you the compensation that you deserve. If you or a loved one were injured in a commercial fishing or shipping accident, contact the attorneys at Kraft Davies today at 206-624-8844 or through this website.