Today we continue our interview (click HERE for part 1) with Ralph Mellusi, an admiralty lawyer specializing in marine license defense. Ralph Mellusi has represented a high number of mariners on behalf of MOPS, the leading provider of Marine License Insurance in the United States.

What does the insurance provide the mariner? What is not covered by this type of insurance?
The amount and extent of coverage depends on what the Mariner selects. Mariners face multiple exposures, the first is to the license, the second is Civil liability and the third is Criminal Liability. In any one incident, one exposure or all three can be present.

Starting with Coverage for the first exposure, – the license- a mariner can purchase coverage which only pays for the legal expenses of an Admiralty Attorney. Under the Mops Policy which I am associated and familiar with, the coverage is unlimited which means there is no cap on the amount of attorney fees which the policy will cover. The premium cost increases with higher license grades.
[Continue Reading →]

Related Posts:

• Marine License Insurance – An Interview With Admiralty Attorney Ralph J. Mellusi Esq. – Part 1
• Casualty Outlook
• The Best Knives for the Pro-Mariner
• Collision At Sea – Time Lapse Photography Collection
• The Century’s Most Devastating Bridge Collapses

Since the first tree was carved by our ancestors for the purpose of water borne transportation risk has been associated with our industry. Vessel build quality, the training of mariners, a culture supporting safety are all elements under the control of a shipping company but despite great strides being made in every element under our control, ship still happens.  To mitigate risk, shipping companies take out hull, P&I and various other types of Marine Insurance. They also insure their work force by purchasing health, dental and accident insurance from medical providers. Those looking to ship cargo take are also well protected against loss, if they fail to insure the cargo a shipper might accept the goods for transport but accepts little liability if, say, a container gets washed overboard.

With multiple types of insurance working together to protect every element of a voyage their is currently one looming gap; insuring the maritime officers against the revocation or suspensions of their license. To make matters worse some license holders are allowing the U.S.C.G. to serve as judge, jury and executioner by signing a “Settlement Agreement” in which they prematurely – and needlessly – surrender their licenses in the confusing moments following a marine casualty. This happened immediately after the Empress Of the North grounded on a rock near Juneu Alaska. The 3rd mate had been asked to cover the watch of the 2nd mate and, despite knowing a difficult turn would occur on his watch, the captain provided no direct supervision or guidance. This occurred 2 weeks after the mate had graduated from California Maritime Academy.  Luckily this individual had the foresight to ask our opinion in the matter and it was quickly resolved.  But if the USCG is making demands, you may not have time to find a lawyer and if you do the costs will be high.

Ralph  Mellusi is an admiralty lawyer specializing in this field he has represented a high number of mariners on behalf of MOPS, the leading provider of Marine License Insurance in the United States. We sat down with Ralph to ask a few questions. [Continue Reading →]

Related Posts:

• Marine License Insurance – An Interview With Ralph J. Mellusi Esq. – Part 2
• Casualty Outlook
• The Best Knives for the Pro-Mariner
• Collision At Sea – Time Lapse Photography Collection
• The Century’s Most Devastating Bridge Collapses

Last week we brought you information on marine license insurance and in our continuing quest to look at non-traditional protection available to mariners we bring you Global Rescue – Maritime!

Mariners work in conditions that make getting immediate medical treatment extremely difficult. Most mariners and shipping companies do not have the assets to quickly and smoothly move injured or ill mariners off the ship and to qualified medical facilities much less to a hospital of their choice. When they do, Aeromedical transports can cost well over $100,000US and are rarely covered by insurance.

Even when a shipping company has a track record of evacuating injured mariners they rarely offer the level of service a good third party company can provide. For example:  Will your company send you to a hospital in the nearest country or get you home fast? Will they provide a qualified medivac team at the closest point of land? Will the patient and their family’s concerns remain top priority?  With Global Rescue the answer is YES!  They also are discrete, important if you worry about your company’s reaction to a medical concern.

Global Rescue tells us: [Continue Reading →]

Related Posts:

• USCG Releases Top 11 Rescue Videos of 2009
• Rescue At Sea – A Video
• USCG Cruise Ship Medivac – Video
• 2009 USCG Video of the Year Competition – What’s your favorite?
• The Truth About Cold Water