Accidents can happen in any workplace, including on a boat out at sea. The costs of an injury can quickly mount up, and to make it worse, your injuries might leave you unable to work for the time being at least. Thus you would be spending without anything coming in.
Fortunately, those who work at sea have options. One is to claim against your employer. Another, perhaps more straightforward one is to take advantage of the seaman’s equivalent of worker’s compensation which allows you to receive maintenance, cure and unearned wages. You can even do both.
Maintenance
As a seaman, your employer would typically provide you with accommodation and food as part of your package. Maintenance is a daily amount to replace the loss of this. A court will decide how much it is and you will receive it until a doctor says you have recovered as well as you will be able to.
Cure
What is the cost to cure you? What medical treatment do you need? You should get these bills paid.
Unearned wages
What earnings will you lose by being unable to work due to your injuries? You would usually be entitled to these for the duration of your contract or the voyage. Your employer might dispute how long this means.
Note that you may also be able to claim these three things if it’s an illness suffered while working at sea (rather than an injury resulting from an accident) that keeps you off work.
Understanding how to pursue these options will be crucial to your chances of success.