Liability Issues in the Operation of Oceanographic Research Vessels in the United States

Research vessel owners and operators face virtually all of the liability problems experienced by commercial vessel operators. In addition, operators must plan for the activities of the scientific party, who are, under the terms of the Oceanographic Research Vessel Act, considered neither passengers nor crew. This paper will consider the standards U.S. courts have applied when injuries to either the crew or scientific party have occurred aboard research vessels. It will emphasize defensive planning for the vessel owner through the use of the voluntary Research Vessel Safety Standards developed by the University-National oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS).