Crane Operator Injured From Ship Crane

A crane operator suffered disabling injuries when a ship crane broke at the pedestal, dropping he and the crane 15 feet into the hold of the ship. The German fabricated ship owned by a Russian company left the Port of New Orleans in a matter of days. Investigation revealed the ships manufacturer and crane manufacturer were East German entities no longer in existence. After fighting jurisdictional issues and taking testimony of the Russian crew through translators in Marseilles, France, the matter was concluded successfully at mediation.