Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by Donald Davis
The phone rang at 6:23 AM, the kind of call that only comes with bad news. It was a barge captain whose vessel had allided with a dock on the Industrial Canal, and the fog that morning was so thick you could barely see the Crescent City Connection. That’s the reality of maritime law here—it’s not some abstract concept in a law library. It’s the smell of diesel and river water, the sound of a ship’s horn in the Port of New Orleans, and the immediate, gutlevel understanding that the Mississippi River is both the lifeblood of our city and a source of constant, complex legal challenges.
After nearly fifteen years practicing maritime law in New Orleans, I’ve learned that our legal landscape is as unique as our city itself. The laws that govern the waterways here are a world apart from standard landbased law, and if you work on or around the water, you need someone who speaks that language fluently. Honestly, the number of times I’ve had to explain to a client that their standard business insurance doesn’t cover a Jones Act claim… it’s more than I can count.
What Makes Maritime Law in New Orleans Different
You know what’s funny? Most people think maritime law is just for big oceangoing ships. But here, it covers everything from a shrimp boat out of Chalmette to a crew boat servicing oil rigs in the Gulf, to a tourist paddlewheeler on the Moonwalk. Our jurisdiction is a tangled web of federal law, the Louisiana Civil Code, and local port regulations. It’s a lot.
I remember a client, a deckhand from the Westbank who fell while repairing a winch on a tugboat. His employer tried to say it was his own fault. But under the Jones Act, which protects maritime workers, we were able to show the equipment was faulty. That one still stings, thinking about how close he came to just accepting what they told him.
The truth is, the river and the Gulf don’t forgive mistakes. And the legal system that governs them shouldn’t either. We have one of the busiest port complexes in the world right here in New Orleans, and with that comes a specific set of risks and legal remedies you won’t find anywhere else.
Common Maritime Legal Issues We See in New Orleans
Let me break down the types of cases that walk through my door most often. This isn’t some theoretical list—this is the real work we do for people in this city.
Injuries to Maritime Workers (The Jones Act & More)
If you work on a vessel and get hurt, you’re not filing for standard workers’ comp. You’re likely covered by the Jones Act, which is a federal law that allows seamen to sue their employers for negligence. This is huge. It means your recovery isn’t limited to a set schedule of benefits.
We’re talking about everything from slip and falls on wet decks to more serious machinery accidents. I had a cook on a supply boat who suffered severe burns in the galley off of Tchoupitoulas Street. The company claimed he was just clumsy. Wait—actually, let me rephrase that more clearly. They argued it was his sole fault. But our investigation found a known issue with a faulty gas line that management had ignored for months. That’s the kind of detail that changes everything in a Jones Act case.
Boat & Barge Collisions (Allisions and Collisions)
In maritime law, we even have a special word for when a vessel hits a stationary object like a dock or a bridge pier—it’s called an “allision.” And we see our share of them, especially with the tricky currents around the Carrollton Bend or the tight turns by Algiers Point.
The legal question immediately becomes: why did it happen? Was it pilot error? A mechanical failure with the steering? A problem with the navigation aids? I’ve worked on cases involving all of the above. The key is acting fast to preserve evidence from the vessel’s data recorders and getting statements before memories fade.
Recreational Boating Accidents
This isn’t all commercial work. With Lake Pontchartrain, the Rigolets, and all our bayous, recreational boating is a huge part of life here. When a fun day on the water goes wrong—a collision between pleasure boats, a skier getting injured, a carbon monoxide poisoning incident on a houseboat—the liability issues get complex fast. Were the navigation rules followed? Was the boat properly maintained? Was the operator negligent?
Cargo Claims & Charter Party Disputes
The Port of New Orleans is a massive hub for grain, rubber, coffee, steel… you name it. When cargo is damaged, lost, or delayed, the financial stakes are enormous. The contracts governing this stuff—called “charter parties” or “bills of lading”—are dense, full of fine print, and often favor the big shipping companies. You need someone who can decode that language and fight for your interests.
The Local Challenge: Weather and Water
If you’re from New Orleans, you know our weather is its own beast. A sudden squall line on the lake, the fog rolling in off the river, a summer thunderstorm that pops up out of nowhere. These aren’t just inconveniences; they’re major contributing factors in maritime incidents. And I’ve seen insurance companies try to blame “an act of God” for an accident that was really due to a captain pushing his luck or a company pressuring a crew to meet a schedule despite the forecast.
I leaned back in my chair just last week thinking about a case from a few years back, a collision near the Huey P. Long Bridge during a fog bank. You could smell the rain coming that day. The other side argued it was an unavoidable weather event. But we found logs showing the vessel’s radar was on the fritz for weeks, and the company had deferred the repair. That’s not an act of God; that’s negligence.
What to Look for in a New Orleans Maritime Lawyer
So, how do you find the right person when you need help? It’s not just about picking a name from a phone book.
- Specific Maritime Experience: This should be obvious, but you’d be surprised. Don’t hire a general personal injury lawyer for a complex Jones Act case. You want someone who lives and breathes this stuff.
- Local Court Knowledge: Having argued cases in front of judges at the federal courthouse on Poydras Street and dealing with local maritime officials matters. It just does. You learn the nuances, the personalities, the unwritten rules.
- Resources for Investigation: Maritime cases often require hiring marine surveyors, accident reconstruction experts, and medical professionals who understand maritime injuries. Your lawyer needs to have that network.
- A Willingness to Go to Trial: Honestly, some firms just want to settle fast. But the best outcomes often come from being fully prepared to present your case to a judge and jury. It shows the other side you’re not bluffing.
To be completely honest, I’ve made the mistake early in my career of underestimating how quickly evidence can disappear from a vessel. Now, we move within hours if we have to.
Some Established Maritime Law Options in New Orleans
Based on actual local presence, here are some established providers in New Orleans who have been serving the maritime community for years:
The Martin Law Firm, S.C.L.C. — Serves the Greater New Orleans area and the Gulf Coast.
Gaiennie Law Office — Located in the New Orleans central business district.
The Lickteig Law Firm — Handles maritime injury cases in the New Orleans region.
Volk Law — Based in New Orleans with a focus on maritime and offshore law.
Costs & What to Expect
Most maritime lawyers in New Orleans, including us, work on a contingency fee basis for injury cases. That means you don’t pay anything upfront. Our fee comes from a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay legal fees. It’s that simple. This makes legal representation accessible to everyone, from a ship’s captain to a deckhand.
For commercial disputes, like cargo or charter party issues, the fee structure might be different—sometimes hourly, sometimes a flat fee or a hybrid. We’re always transparent about it from the very first meeting.
Navigating Local Rules & Verification
It’s crucial to work with someone who is properly licensed and in good standing. You can verify an attorney’s license through the Louisiana State Bar Association.
For regulatory issues involving vessels or ports, you’ll often be dealing with the Port of New Orleans and federal agencies like the U.S. Coast Guard, which has a significant presence here. The City of New Orleans also has its own regulations for operations on our waterways.
Maritime Law in New Orleans FAQ
What’s the difference between the Jones Act and Maintenance and Cure?
Great question. Maintenance and Cure is a nofault benefit you get from your employer while you’re injured—it covers basic living expenses and medical bills. The Jones Act is a separate claim for negligence that allows you to seek damages for pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, and more.
How long do I have to file a maritime injury claim?
It’s complicated, which is why you should act fast. Generally, you have three years under federal law, but there can be shorter deadlines in your employment contract. Don’t wait. Evidence disappears, and memories get fuzzy.
I was injured on a dock. Does that count as maritime?
It might. There’s something called the “Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act” (LHWCA) that covers many landbased maritime workers. If your work is related to loading/unloading vessels or shipbuilding/repair, you could be covered. We’d need to look at the specifics of your case.
My recreational boat was damaged in a storm. Is that a maritime law issue?
Yes, it can be. Your insurance policy is a maritime contract. If the insurance company denies or underpays your claim, you may need a maritime lawyer to enforce the policy and argue about the cause of the loss—like whether it was truly storm damage or preexisting wear and tear.
Long story short, the water is our heritage and our economy in New Orleans. But when things go wrong out there, you need a guide who knows the legal currents as well as the river pilots know the Mississippi. If you’re facing a maritime issue, start by talking to someone who understands this unique world from the inside out. It makes all the difference.