Who qualifies to be a Jones Act seaman?
Workers who are employed to work aboard a vessel in navigable waters are Jones Act seamen. To be a seaman, the worker must be employed in a capacity that contributes to the mission of the vessel, its operation or maintenance, and do ship’s work. This includes times while the vessel is at anchor, or preparing for future trips. A crewman need not aid the navigation of the vessel to qualify as a seaman. For example, a cook on a tug boat; an entertainer on a cruise ship; a fish processor on a fishing boat; a night watchman aboard a vessel that never goes to sea; and even a crewman who has worked just one day or takes just one trip on a vessel, all may qualify as a Jones Act seaman, and be entitled to compensation when they are injured. Ferry workers who commute to work and do not sleep and eat aboard the vessel are Jones Act employees.
