Ocean Peace Fisheries is one of the largest fishing companies in the North Pacific. Based in Seattle, the company first formed in 1990, and its fleet is now comprised of five factory trawlers, including F/V Ocean Peace, F/V Seafisher, F/V Alaska Victory, F/V Alaska Warrior, and F/V Green Hope. Ocean Peace Fisheries focuses on catching and processing Alaska white fish like Ataka mackerel, Pacific Ocean perch, Pacific cod, yellowfin sole, rock sole, and flathead sole.
Working as a commercial fisherman for Ocean Peace Fisheries is a dangerous job, and injuries do occur. For example, in 2010, a fish processor was seriously injured while cleaning machinery aboard the F/V Ocean Peace. In 2018, a crew member was medevaced from the Ocean Peace to a hospital in Anchorage after suffering from seasickness and loss of consciousness. Many times, the injuries that occur on fishing vessels could have been prevented with proper training, policies, or equipment.
Seamen injured on Ocean Peace Fisheries vessels are covered under general maritime law and the Jones Act. These laws are complicated, and you should reach out to an experienced maritime attorney to understand your rights. Even if the injury was not your employer’s fault, you are most likely entitled to maintenance and cure benefits. Maintenance refers to daily living expenses, like rent and food, and cure refers to all reasonable and necessary medical expenses for your injury. You have the right to choose your own doctor and receive maintenance and cure benefits until your doctor determines that no further treatment will improve the underlying condition. If Ocean Peace Fisheries intentionally and unreasonably refuses to pay maintenance and cure, you may be entitled to punitive damages.
You might be entitled to further compensation if Ocean Peace Fisheries vessel was unseaworthy, meaning that it was not reasonably fit for its intended use. The duty to provide a seaworthy vessel is absolute. This means that companies will be liable whether or not they knew that the boat was unseaworthy.
Under the Jones Act, Ocean Peace Fisheries is required to provide a safe working environment to its workers. Inadequate training, lack of proper equipment, malfunctioning equipment, and excessive overtime are examples of negligence. Your employer’s negligence does not need to be the sole or leading cause of the injury. Even the smallest act of negligence can lead to liability under the Jones Act. The damages available under the Jones Act are significant and include past and future lost wages, lost earning capacity, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.
Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC is a nationally recognized leader in maritime personal injury law. Kraft Davies has significant experience representing injured seamen against Ocean Peace 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 on an Ocean Peace Fisheries vessel, contact-us.html the attorneys at Kraft Davies today at 206.624.8844 or through this website for an initial consultation.