It can sometimes seem that when seamen are out at sea on the job that there is no one responsible for them. It can seem like they are really on their own, especially with current news about pirates. If you are unfamiliar with the current problems with piracy, it is becoming more and more common that pirates are hijacking boats and taking the seamen on the boats as hostages for money. This is a serious problem financially, and more importantly, for the lives of the seamen who are out there doing their jobs. The good news is that there is legal protection for seamen who are out on the sea. Much of this protection comes from the Jones Act. In this article, you will learn how the Jones Act applies to Seamen who are victims of piracy.

The Jones Act was part of the Merchant Marine act of 1920. The purpose of the act is to protect seamen from all kinds of exploitation. In the old days, seamen use to live in horrible, unsafe conditions. They were injured often and were usually given two choices. They could either keep working while hurt or lose money and risk even losing their jobs. The Jones Act and Maritime Law protects seamen from falling victim to this kind of treatment. The act protects them from the smallest neglect on the side of the employer. If you are wondering how this applies to piracy, the answer is simple. If a boat is hijacked, it's because the seamen have been sailing in dangerous waters without the proper protection.

The Jones Act and Maritime Law Firm see to it that seamen are given everything they need to protect themselves. This pertains to injury and sickness, but it also pertains to physical challenges and aggression, such as piracy. Piracy cannot always be stopped, but if the employer provides the proper protection, the chances of piracy occurring certainly decline.