Experiencing the natural beauty of the ocean, the views of the coastline and the extraordinary setting of a yacht sounds like the perfect way to spend any day. Whether for pleasure or for sport, yachts are designed to provide comfort, relaxation, and recreation to its passengers.
What is the typical crew of a yacht?
Besides the skipper or captain, who has overall responsibility for running the yacht and the engineer who is responsible for the maintenance and repair, including plumbing, electrical and all equipment, here are some typical crew positions on a yacht:
- Deckhands – Clean and maintain the exterior of the yacht
- Steward/Stewardess – Attends to the owner and guests
- First Mate/First Officer – Takes command from the captain when necessary
- Bosun/Second Officer – Performs the same duties as the deckhand but also helps the first mate
- Chef – Plans and prepares meals and orders kitchen provisions
Chartering a Yacht
You don’t need to own your own yacht in order to be able to enjoy the experience of spending a day on one and cruising to find secluded beaches or dining at seaside restaurants. Chartering a yacht for a day offers you the pleasure of the sun, fishing, if that is your pleasure, and may even include water toys that can provide you with further entertainment.
The Sea Can Be Dangerous
The ocean attracts plenty of people for its beauty and majestic power, but conditions can quickly change, making it dangerous and treacherous. Under those conditions, accidents can happen. Particularly if the crew and its captain are negligent, if they don’t offer basic guidelines to passengers, including life-saving equipment, if they fail to behave properly or if they are operating a vessel that is not seaworthy.
What are the most common accidents and injuries that happen under those conditions?
- Slip and fall accidents due to wet decks
- Trip and fall accidents due to raised thresholds or uneven decks
- Accidents caused by drunk crew members or guests
- Fractures due to sailing in unfavorable weather
- Head injuries due to improper docking, grounding or collisions
- Falls overboard and disappearances
- Amputations due to swinging doors or hatches while sailing through rough waters
Have you or your guests been injured as a result of negligence by the yacht’s owner or crew?
If that is the case, federal maritime laws allow you to seek compensation. The damages you can recover may include:
- Current, past, and future medical bills
- Lost current and future wages
- Pain and suffering
- Costs related to your rehabilitation
Who is liable if a boating accident occurs?
After a maritime accident, what must be proven first is who acted negligently. This means that they acted carelessly, and their careless behavior is what caused the accident. If the accident is a collision between two boats, passengers that are injured may have a possible legal case against both operators. In cases where one of the boat operators is injured, it becomes much more difficult to prove their negligence.
Whether the accident happened because of bad weather, because the boat was speeding, because of a hidden submerged object or because there was no proper equipment on board. If you think you have a legal case against a boat operator, you should first learn more about yacht accident laws.
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