Dave Ventker Speaks to Docking Pilots on Liability Issues

We are pleased to announce firm managing partner, Dave Ventker, spoke on April 27, 2018, at the annual meeting of the American Harbor and Docking Pilots Association, held in Jacksonville, Florida.  Mr. Ventker drew on his extensive experience in defending the liability of docking pilots to speak on the topic, “Minimizing Exposure:  Legal Issues and Risks for Docking Pilots.”  Docking pilots, not to be confused with state-licensed harbor pilots, are typically federally-licensed mariners who take the conn of a vessel coming into port during the final approach to a berth, or for the initial period in departing a berth.  Docking pilots give orders to the assist tugs to ensure a smooth docking or undocking manuever.  Docking pilots are typically tug captains with additional specialized training in ship handling.