Court-recognized experts at Fisher Maritime have analyzed and reconstructed numerous recreational boating casualties, providing technical advice and expert witness services. A majority of associated litigation cases were settled or resolved before trial following production of our expert reports.
We have analyzed, reported on, been deposed, and testified in many courts in matters involving all types of recreational boating craft from personal watercraft (jet skis) to megayachts, as well as other issues such as collisions, statutory regulations, improper operation, passenger injuries and more. Representative matters in which the services of Fisher Maritime have been retained include the following:
Sail / Fishing Vessel Collision
A case that case entailed a damages claim in connection with a collision between a 16-foot Hobie Cat catamaran sail vessel and a 31-foot Hydra-Sports sport-fishing vessel that occurred upon Shinnecock Bay, at the east end of Long Island, NY. The power-driven vessel was proceeding in a south-southwesterly direction within a marked channel in the Bay, while the vessel under sail was proceeding in a west-northwesterly direction from the open water area of the Bay, with the intent of crossing through the marked channel. Fisher Maritime was engaged to review and analyze information produced in discovery and to provide expertise in subjects that included statutory rules of the road, navigation and piloting, and other customary vessel operation procedures.
Superyacht Allision Due to Propulsion Control Failure
A case that case entailed a claim for costs of repairs in connection with an accident in which a super-yacht, while underway, allided with another moored and stationary super-yacht in Port Maurizio, Imperia, Italy. Following a cruise in the open waters outside of the port, the underway yacht was in the process of re-entering Port Maurizio at a speed of 5-6 knots when an audible alarm began to sound on its navigating bridge. When the captain attempted to reduce that vessel’s speed with its propulsion control handles, the engines did not respond and the subject allision occurred. Fisher Maritime was engaged to review and analyze information produced in discovery, perform vessel inspections and provide expertise in subjects that included bridge control electronics, navigation, piloting and other customary vessel operation and shiphandling procedures, as well as maritime doctrine inherent in the Oregon Rule.
Fatal Recreational Boat Collision Resulting
A case that entailed a wrongful death claim in connection with a collision between two recreational vessels upon the waters of New Jersey’s Manasquan River, east of a New Jersey Transit railroad bridge that crosses the river approximately one nautical mile in from the entrance jetties of Manasquan Inlet, where the river meets Atlantic Ocean waters. Following an excursion to a site upriver, Vessel 1 had just passed through the railroad bridge and was in the process of returning to its home dock area near the inlet jetties. At approximately the same time, Vessel 2 was westbound, headed for a marina at a location further upriver while moving at a high rate of speed with its hull “up on plane.” Vessel 2 was also headed directly into a setting sun that was casting significant glare upon the water as it approached Vessel 1 moving in the opposite direction, and when its operator maneuvered Vessel 1 to encounter the approaching wake wave, the two vessels collided. Fisher Maritime was engaged to review and analyze information produced in discovery, perform vessel and site inspections and provide expertise in subjects that included statutory rules of the road, navigation, piloting and other customary vessel operation and shiphandling procedures.
Injury Due to Collision of Two Rented Jet Skis
A case that entailed a personal injury claim in connection with an accident involving a collision of two PWCs (jet skis) near Wildwood, NJ upon the waters of Richardson Sound along the New Jersey Intercoastal Waterway. Both PWCs had been rented from a local operator and were being operated in a designated “riding area” for PWCs located within the waters of Richardson Sound. PWC 1 was moving diagonally across the rectangular riding area at a speed of approximately 40 mph and collided with PWC 2 which was moving along the perimeter of the designated riding area at a lesser speed. Fisher Maritime was engaged to review and analyze information produced in discovery, perform vessel and site inspections and provide expertise in subjects that included statutory rules of the road, New Jersey regulations for instruction and supervision of rental PWC riders, and other customary PWC operation and handling procedures.
Fatal Nighttime Grounding of Recreational Vessel
A case that entailed a wrongful death claim in connection with a recreational boating accident that occurred in the waters of the Merrimack River entrance near Newburyport, MA when a 36-foot UNIFLITE recreational vessel struck the north jetty of the Merrimack River entrance while attempting to enter from Atlantic Ocean waters. In conditions that included full darkness and patchy fog, the vessel operator commenced the transit of the Merrimack River inlet, however, a strong tidal current was flowing into the inlet at the time, along with heavy incoming ocean swells. The combination of these factors caused the vessel to come into hard contact with the jetty rocks and open a large gash in its hull, which resulted in the vessel sinking. Fisher Maritime was engaged to review and analyze information produced in discovery, perform a site inspection and provide expertise in subjects that included nighttime navigation and piloting, ocean inlet transit procedures, statutory rules of the road regarding lookout and speed, and customary weather-monitoring practices.
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Fisher International Maritime Consultants, LLC (“FIMC”)