Since the advent of the novel coronavirus, many in the maritime community have been hit hard by closed ports and lockdowns. As essential workers, many continue to work at sea, sometimes being stranded or kept on their vessel due to closed ports, and many have been unable to receive adequate medical care if they contracted COVID-19 while working on board.1
When ship owners or cruise lines have been negligent in implementing safety measures, (which might include proper training and precautions to protect crew members from exposure to the virus) some maritime workers may be eligible for compensation under the Jones Act.
Coronavirus in a Maritime Environment
Experienced Jones Act lawyers are engaged in protecting the rights of maritime workers who may have been infected with COVID-19 and sustained personal injury while working at sea. The Jones Act provides seamen a path to compensation when ship owners do not provide a safe working environment,2 similar to workers’ compensation benefits that land-based employees receive.
While there are many specific legal requirements to qualify for compensation under the Jones Act, a long list of CISA-identified essential maritime workers3 may be eligible, including:
- Merchant mariners, consultants, architects, and shipyard workers
- Longshoremen, line handlers, and stevedores who meet the Jones Act requirements
- Cargo, crane, equipment, and dredging operators who spend a significant portion of their work time at sea
- Vessel owners, shipping agents, operators, and on-board dispatchers
- Commercial barge fleet crew members
Protecting the Wellbeing of Maritime Workers and Their Families
The coronavirus continues to demonstrate an ability to spread rapidly in closed environments like an ocean-going vessel. Owners and their captains have a legal duty to maintain a safe work environment, provide training and protective gear to their crew, and protect workers from the negligence of their fellow shipmates. The Jones Act may well be a route to fair compensation for some maritime workers injured by COVID-19.
If you or a loved one got sick while working at sea, consult our experienced team of maritime lawyers to find out if you may be eligible for compensation for those injuries. COVID-19 is a new and modern danger that maritime workers face, but this well-established law may provide some families with relief.
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