Maritime & Offshore Claim Evidence Navigator

Offshore injury rights depend on vessel status, connection time, and worksite situs under federal maritime law. Map your jurisdictional markers and build a verified evidence checklist.

Incident Parameters Preset Ready

Choose a representative scenario or configure custom operational details to recalculate statutory applicability.

Standard Scenarios:

Worksite & Structure Type Structure mobility dictates whether Jones Act or OCSLA/State law governs. Worker Operational Assignment Temporal Connection to Vessel (% of Working Time)

75%

Under the Chandris v. Latsis standard, 30% or more connection to a vessel or fleet strongly indicates Seaman status. Location / Geographic Waters Primary Incident Causation Category Incident Date & Record ID

Analysis synchronized with current operational inputs.

Statutory Framework Match Evaluating...

Real-time weighting of governing maritime statutes based on United States federal admiralty benchmarks.

46 U.S.C. § 30104

Jones Act

Provides negligence remedies and jury trials for seamen connected to vessels in navigation.

Status Match85%

General Maritime Law

Maintenance & Cure

No-fault living allowance, curative medical coverage, and strict unseaworthiness liability.

Status Match90%

33 U.S.C. § 901

LHWCA

Federal workers' compensation for dockside, terminal, and non-crew maritime personnel.

Status Match15%

43 U.S.C. § 1331

OCSLA

Applies to fixed structures on outer continental shelf, borrowing adjacent state tort laws.

Status Match35%

Verify critical maritime records immediately. Evidence on working rigs and vessels is frequently altered, overwritten, or moved into drydock.

STRUCTURED EXPORT FORMAT 6 Evidence Items Verified

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Federal Maritime Jurisdictional Benchmarks

Admiralty jurisdiction is notoriously jurisdictional-specific. The Supreme Court has repeatedly clarified that job title does not decide legal protections—operational connection and worksite situs do.

1. Chandris 30% Seaman Rule

In Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis (1995), the U.S. Supreme Court established that a worker must have a substantial connection to a vessel in navigation in both duration and nature. As an empirical guideline, spending at least 30% of working time aboard a vessel generally satisfies the duration threshold for Jones Act seaman status.

Vessel in Navigation: Must be afloat, operational, and capable of moving on navigable waters.
Fleet Doctrine: Vessel connection can be across an identifiable fleet under common ownership.

2. Fixed Platforms vs. Modus

Offshore platforms bolted permanently to the seabed (OCSLA) are treated as federal enclaves borrowing adjacent state law (e.g., Louisiana or Texas law). Movable drill units (Jackups, Drillships, Semi-submersibles) are recognized as vessels under maritime law when mobile or temporarily secured.

OCSLA: Excludes Jones Act negligence against employer; restricted to statutory comp.
Third-Party Liability: Contractors and platform operators may still face general maritime claims.

3. Critical Preservation Deadlines

Maritime evidence degrades quickly. Voyage data recorders (VDRs) loop over recordings within hours to days. Deck logs, Daily Drilling Reports (DDRs), and Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) should be preserved formally through a spoliation preservation demand.

Jones Act Statute: Generally 3 years from date of injury (46 U.S.C. § 30106).
LHWCA Notice: Formal notice within 30 days; claim within 1 year.