Just outside of the hurricane belt, Trinidad and Tobago lies within 12 miles of international shipping routes. In fact, there are thousands of commercial ships that pass within 25 miles of Trinidad and Tobago each year. That being the case, the trade minister in Trinidad has prioritized the maritime sector and cut down on processing time to make customs approvals simple and easy.
Trinidad’s Gulf of Paria on the windward coast has ample space for dry-dock development and the natural deep harbor and limited wind make this coast ideal for commercial enterprise. The Chaguaramas peninsula, on the other hand, is an ideal location for leisure crafts, especially with a sizable established market on the peninsula for marine repair.
Cruise lines are frequent visitors to Trinidad, which experienced a 200 percent increase in its cruise sector in the 2014-2015 period. Trinidad is continually focused on expansion and, as such, it hosted the 2015 Seatrade Caribbean Cruise Forum where participating cruise lines could develop a deeper understanding of the region.
Unfortunately, whenever there are cruise ships, pleasure vessels or working commercial ships offshore, there is potential for maritime injuries to occur. When something does go wrong, a maritime lawyer at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. can provide invaluable assistance to passengers or crew members who suffered harm.
Maritime Laws in Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago are the southernmost islands in the Caribbean, located seven miles off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The flight from Miami to Trinidad is just over three hours, while it takes 58 minutes by plane to get from Caracas to Trinidad.
If you get hurt in Trinidad or offshore, you are likely far away from your friends, family members, your doctor and local law enforcement. It can be a very frightening experience to be alone and so far away from the United States while you cope with illness or injury.
There are just two cell phone providers in Trinidad and Tobago as well (Digicel and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago), so it can be difficult to get in touch with someone from back home when you need to. Still, you should reach out as soon as possible after your injury to get the medical attention you need, report the incident, and explore your options for taking action under maritime law.
Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. represents clients throughout North America, the Caribbean and locations throughout the world. Our publications help you be prepared to respond if you suffer an offshore injury while visiting Trinidad. Read about your rights and your options before you go on vacation so you are prepared in case a problem arises.
If you do get hurt in Trinidad while offshore or on a shore excursion, you should give us a call as soon as you can. There are Internet cafes throughout Trinidad and we make it easy for you to reach out to us internationally using services like Skype.
Don’t Hesitate…Call LM&W Today
Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. understands how to determine admiralty jurisdiction and how to determine what laws apply to you after you get hurt in Trinidad. Give us a call at 877-233-1238 to schedule a consultation or contact us online so we can get to work right away investigating how your injury happened. Let us work to help you get full compensation for your injuries.
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