Miami Cruise Ship Gangway Injuries Attorney

Board-Certified Maritime Representation for Passengers & Crewmembers

A gangway is the passageway connecting a cruise ship to the dock during boarding and disembarkation. It is one of the most hazardous transition points on any voyage. When a gangway isn’t properly secured, vessel movement can shift it without warning, leaving passengers or crewmembers pinned between the ship and the dock, thrown to the ground, or worse. These incidents can cause severe injuries or wrongful death.

At Michael C. Black, P.A., we represent both cruise passengers and crewmembers injured in gangway accidents. Michael C. Black is Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. This credential directly applies to the federal admiralty frameworks governing these claims. Our firm has been handling maritime personal injury cases in Miami since 1995. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and what steps to take next.

Federal Safety Regulations & What Cruise Lines Are Required to Provide

Federal safety requirements under OSHA 29 CFR 1915.74 impose specific obligations on cruise lines and vessel operators to provide safe gangways for anyone boarding or exiting a ship. A violation of any of these requirements may constitute negligence and can also support an unseaworthiness claim against the vessel owner. This means the vessel wasn’t reasonably fit for its intended purpose.

Required gangway safety standards include:

• Gangway or straight ladder preferred: A gangway or straight ladder must be used whenever possible; a Jacob’s ladder is a last resort and must still meet its own safety specifications
• Railings of adequate height: Railings must be sufficiently taut and reach a minimum height of 33 inches, measured perpendicularly from rail to walking surface at the stanchion, with a midrail
• Net and bridge at gaps: When the foot of a gangway overhangs the water between the ship and dock in a way that creates a fall risk, a net must be rigged at the foot of the gangway; if the foot of the gangway is more than one foot from the edge of the dock apron, that space must be bridged by a firm walkway with railings
• Clear of debris and cargo: The gangway must be kept free of cargo, debris, and obstructions at all times
• Full-length illumination: The entire length of the gangway must be properly lit
• No suspended loads overhead: Cargo may not be moved over the gangway while passengers or crew are on it

Filing a Gangway Injury Claim: Deadlines, Damages, & Where Cases Are Heard

Most major cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity, include forum selection clauses in their passenger ticket contracts requiring any lawsuit to be filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. Our location and maritime focus are directly relevant to where your case may be heard.

Injured passengers and crewmembers may be entitled to pursue compensation for:

• Medical treatment costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Rehabilitation expenses
• A stipend for medical and living expenses during recovery

Cruise injury claims carry strict deadlines that don’t apply to standard personal injury cases. Most ticket contracts require written notice of a claim to the cruise line within six months of the accident, and admiralty law typically limits the filing period to one year from the date of the incident. Evidence preservation is equally time-sensitive. Our firm can help you file a personal injury claim under United States admiralty law. We have more than 30 years of experience handling cruise ship injury cases for clients in Florida and internationally, including cases involving cruise ship liability under federal maritime standards.