Covering approximately 50 percent of Palm Beach County, the Port of Palm Beach is 135 miles south of Port Canaveral and 80 miles north of Miami. 60 percent of everything that is consumed in the Bahamas is supplied by the Port of Palm Beach and the bulk of the cargo exported from the port supports the rest of the Caribbean.
Among the 14 deepwater ports in Florida, the Port of Palm Beach is the 4th busiest container port in the state and the 18th busiest in the U.S. However, the port handles more than just commodities. Cruise ships also use the port.
The Bahamas Celebration, a popular cruise ship, was based at the port. It traveled to the Bahamas every other day, bringing around 275,000 passengers to the port. In late January of 2015, the ship was sold for scrap after an announcement was made in December 2014 that the ship could not be fixed after it hit an unknown object when leaving Freeport and sustained damage. The ship was ultimately replaced by what is known as the MV Grand Celebration, which operates under the newly-created Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.
Attorneys Who Care
We know that things happen on land and on water. When an incident occurs, accident victims need to know that they can reach out to a maritime lawyer who is prepared to help them every step of the way. Our office is located a little over an hour away from the Port of Palm Beach and only minutes away from the main terminals of the Port of Miami.
Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. represents the injured in cases involving incidents that occur on yachts (which are quite common in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach), cruise ships, jet skis and many other types of vessels.
How We Can Help With Your Maritime Law Case
Maritime law is typically applied to certain kinds of injury cases. For instance, certain individuals who work on vessels that are either docked or at sea are generally protected by the Jones Act. However, harbor workers and longshoremen who are not deemed to be “seamen” under the law are typically protected by the Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Act.
It is also imperative for victims to keep in mind that, depending on the specifics of their situation, a lawsuit must be initiated within three years of the occurrence of the injury; otherwise, the right to sue may be lost forever. This is known as a statute of limitations, and the timeframe may be even shorter for cruise ship victims, depending on what is contained in the fine print of the cruise ticket.
If you or a family member has been hurt while working onboard a cruise ship, recreational boat or oil rig, help is available. Our attorneys understand the nuances of the laws that govern legal responsibility and compensation rights for the injured in such cases. If you would like to learn more about your legal options or discuss the specifics of your case, contact our office at (877) 233-1238 or use our online form.
