South Carolina Man Sues MSC Cruises After Gangway Crushes Foot During Re-boarding of MSC Seaside
Thomas Young, a resident of South Carolina, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises S.A. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22267-MD, alleges that Young suffered permanent and debilitating injuries when a ship’s gangway landed on his foot while he was attempting to re-enter the vessel. The incident occurred on April 9, 2025, while the MSC Seaside was docked at a port of call during a regularly scheduled vacation cruise.
Cruise Passenger Sustains Crushing Injuries on MSC Seaside Due to Unsecured and Hovering Gangway
The legal filing describes a harrowing scene where Young was waiting in line to re-board the MSC Seaside after spending a day on shore. According to the complaint, the vessel’s crew had deployed a gangway that was not properly secured to the ground on the pier. Unknown to the passengers, the bottom end of the gangway was actually hovering several inches above the pavement. As Young assisted his wife onto the structure, the ship and the gangway shifted or rocked, causing the heavy metal end of the platform to drop suddenly onto his right foot. The impact crushed his toes and caused significant trauma. Young asserts that the gap between the gangway and the pier was not an open or obvious hazard and that the dangerous condition was the direct result of negligence by the ship’s crew.
MSC Cruises Accused of Failing to Monitor Passenger Flow and Maintain Safe Ingress Points
The lawsuit highlights a significant lack of supervision at the boarding site, alleging that MSC had no crew members or agents stationed at the bottom of the gangway to regulate or direct the flow of re-boarding passengers. Young argues that as a common carrier, MSC Cruises has a non-delegable duty to provide passengers with a reasonably safe means of entering and leaving the ship. The complaint suggests that the cruise line failed in this duty by allowing a hazardous gap to exist and by failing to provide any verbal or physical assistance to those traversing the area. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that the ship’s staff failed to perform routine inspections or walkthroughs that would have identified the tripping and crushing hazard before the injury occurred.
Plaintiff Cites Prior Incidents on MSC Divina and MSC Meraviglia as Evidence of Notice
To establish that the cruise line had knowledge of these risks, the lawsuit points to a history of similar accidents involving gangways across the MSC fleet. The complaint identifies three specific prior incidents: a passenger injury on the MSC Divina in February 2023, and two separate injuries on the MSC Meraviglia in January 2022 and January 2020. Young’s legal team argues that these prior events gave MSC Cruises both actual and constructive notice that their gangway procedures were insufficient to protect the public. The lawsuit further alleges that the cruise line actively conceals the full extent of its safety record by requiring confidentiality in legal settlements, making it difficult for the public to assess the true frequency of such boarding accidents.
Multiple Counts of Negligence Filed Against MSC Cruises for Permanent Disability and Loss of Life Enjoyment
The complaint brings four distinct counts against the defendant: vicarious liability for the negligence of the crew, negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and general negligence. Young claims that because of the cruise line’s failures, he has suffered physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and a loss of the enjoyment of life. The suit notes that his injuries are permanent and will require ongoing medical care and treatment. Beyond the physical toll, the plaintiff is seeking compensation for the lost value of his vacation and the transportation costs associated with the trip. He alleges that MSC breached the high degree of care demanded of common carriers, where even the slightest negligence can result in liability under maritime law.
Contact a Cruise Ship Gangway Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Boarding a Vessel in Unsafe Conditions
Passengers who suffer injuries due to improperly secured gangways, lack of supervision during boarding, or hazardous gaps between a ship and a pier may be eligible to recover damages under federal maritime law. Cruise operators are legally required to maintain all entry points in a reasonably safe condition and must warn travelers of any hidden dangers. If you or a loved one experienced a crushing injury or a fall while embarking or disembarking a cruise ship, it is important to understand your rights regarding medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today to discuss your potential claim and explore your legal options.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
