If you are considering entering into the maritime field as a profession you should learn about the law governing this field as much as possible. Maritime jobs are some of the most dangerous in the country.
Working on a ship, dock or other entity related to the water is not easy. There are dangers lurking around every corner. That’s why you need to be as safe as possible and know whether your profession is protected under maritime law.
Maritime law, also known as The Jones Act, protects those who work on ships, docks and around water. The Jones Act provides workers injured on the job the right to seek compensation so they can still pay their bills, cover medical expenses and help themselves recover.
In order to be considered a seaman, you must meet the following criteria:
- You work on a ship that navigates waters in the borders of the United States. This ship can be a fishing boat, tugboat, vessel, cruise ship or barge.
- You are employed on said vessel as a rig worker, cook, deckhand, engineer or captain.
- At least 30 percent of your time working on the vessel is spent in navigation.
Now that you have an understanding of maritime law in Louisiana you can determine if your job is one of those that is protected. This is important to know in the event you are injured on the job and have to miss work. You should never ignore any injuries suffered while working on a vessel on any waterway in Louisiana. Doing so could cost you your career.