A worker employed by Frank's Casing Crews was injured while transferring between offshore drilling vessels. The general contractor (UTP) tried to make Frank's indemnify them for the injury claim. Frank's argued that Louisiana law prohibited such indemnification. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that because the work happened on the high seas, federal maritime law applied instead of Louisiana law, making the indemnification clause in the contract valid and enforceable. This means subcontractors working offshore cannot rely on state anti-indemnity laws to escape broad indemnification obligations.
Offshore work is governed by federal maritime law, not state law—your state's anti-indemnity protections may not apply to you.
Indemnification clauses in maritime contracts are enforceable even if they would be illegal under state law, so review offshore contract terms carefully before signing.
If you work on vessels or offshore platforms, assume you will be required to indemnify the general contractor and project owner for injuries, regardless of who was at fault.