Crew member sues for £200K following injury on board 107m Benetti superyacht Mar

A British national hired as private security for the 107-metre Benetti superyacht Mar (ex Lana) has filed a personal injury claim against his contractor following "severe injuries" sustained on board the vessel.

The Claimant, Sam George Gumble, was responsible for maintaining armed security of the vessel, "tracking suspicious vessels" and ensuring "counter-piracy watches [were] in place and alert". The incident occurred in March 2022 while Mar was chartering guests from Oman to Saudi Arabia in time for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Court documents obtained by BOAT International describe a "mechanical issue" causing a water pipe to burst during a false fire alarm, "pinn[ing] the Claimant down" and causing severe injuries that ranged from a dislocated shoulder to a head fracture and contusions to his torso and lower limbs. 

At the time, Mar was managed by Imperial Yachts, though the brokerage and its CEO would be subjected to sanctions (and cease all commercial activities) a few months later.

The Claimant has levied claims of negligence against his contractor Veritas International Consultancy Ltd., citing a failure to provide a safe evacuation route or a safety officer, alongside inadequate communications about the alarm itself. The personal injury claim made is in excess of £200,000, with Gumble adding that he is having difficulty finding work as a result of his injuries.

The Defendants, Veritas International Consultancy Ltd., have denied Gumble's claim on several grounds. They maintain that the employment contract was brokered between the Claimant and Global Maritime Recruitment Solutions, making the latter liable for any claims; that the Claimant underwent a comprehensive vessel safety briefing and familiarisation to prepare for such incidents; and that ultimately it is the captain's responsibility to "ensure that the vessel was an adequately safe place of work for all crew".

The Defendants have requested "strict proof" that the Claimant is "legitimately handicapped on the open labour market", as well as the full nature, extent and cause of the Claimant's injuries before proceeding.