There are 15 people facing charges for the South Korean ferry sinking that killed over 300 people (mostly children and teenagers) last April. The charges range from homicide to negligence. The defendants’ counselors are building a defense that essentially attempts to blame the deaths on the Korean Coast Guard.Defenses against Korean Ferry ChargesThe majority of the charges involve the fact that captain and crew failed to take steps to rescue the occupants. The captain and crew jumped ship and...

On July 1st, the new requirements under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) went into full effect. Adopted in 2012, these amendments were created as part of the IMO’s efforts on large passenger ship safety, and they are designed to ensure that all vessels can be used as rescue assets – with the proper equipment to rescue persons from the water and/or survival craft in the event of an accident.Included in the amendments are:Recovery of Persons from the...

Legislators and stakeholders are struggling to find a workable solution for how to protect the economy and ecosystem from Asian carp that may invade the Great Lakes.Asian Carp Are Making Their Way to the Great LakesAsian carp, a non-native species that can grow up to 100 pounds each and has no natural predators in the Great Lakes, can wipe out entire species of fish by consuming all the available plankton. The United States Department of Fish and Wildlife introduced the species in lakes in the...

There are three distinct types of captain’s (master’s) licenses the United States Coast Guard recognizes, each with their own set of training and boating experience requirements.Types of Boat Captain LicensesThere are three different types of boat captain licenses from which to choose, categorized according to passenger capacity of the vessel and the location of operation: 6 Pack License – the 6 Pack captain’s license is for uninspected vessels that are capable of carrying up to six passengers....