Decision on Foreign Seaman's Wage Claims
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that wage claims brought by foreign seamen for work on foreign ships are subject to the Foreign Arbitral Awards Convention, even where the claims are based on U.S. law. In the instant case, plaintiff Philippine seamen brought suit in federal court in Louisiana against the shipowner, alleging violation of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for failure to pay federal minimum wage and overtime. Defendant asserted that plaintiffs’ employment contracts were controlled by Philippine law and required arbitration of wage disputes in the Philippines. The trial court refused to order arbitration, citing a Louisiana law expressing the state’s strong public policy against forum selection clauses in employment contracts.
McAllister Towing and Transportation: After 137 Years -- A Legacy Prevails
Discussing the marine business with Captain Brian McAllister is much like sitting in a "Maritime History 101" course, in that his accumulated knowledge, experience and stories tell the tale of not only the evolution of one company, but an entire industry operating in one of the world's most dynamic ports. During his more than a quarter of a century at the helm of the family business, Captain Brian McAllister and his company — McAllister Towing and Transportation (MT&T) — have had more than their fair share of wins and losses. However, on the event of the christening of the company's new tugboat Janet M. McAllister — named for McAllister's two-year-old granddaughter…
Ambrose Light Rebuilt in New Location
Ambrose Light, a tower that has stood watch eight nautical miles offshore in the vessel approach lanes to the Port of New York and New Jersey since 1968, was replaced by a modern tower 1.5 miles southeast of the old tower's position. Offshore Specialty Fabricators, Inc., a marine construction company based in Houma, La., performed the two-week installation of the new and removal of the old light towers. The original square Texas oil rig-style tower - a familiar beacon to mariners for 31 years - was struck and damaged beyond repair Oct. 5, 1996 by tanker vessel Aegeo. Damage to the tower included removal of a 15-ft. section in one of its four legs. Temporary repairs were performed to stabilize the structure until the $4.5 million funding was available for the tower's replacement.
