The Dangers of Canals: A Closer Look at America’s Most Vital & Risky Waterways

Canals have long been hailed as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the modern era. Designed to move massive volumes of cargo and connect inland regions to major ports, canals transformed global trade and industry. During the Industrial Revolution, the need to efficiently transport coal, produce, and other goods became so urgent that investors and engineers were driven to pioneer entirely new transport systems. Thus began the canal age—a period of rapid infrastructure development that forever changed the economic landscape.

Britain’s “canal mania” of the 1790s marked the beginning of this transformation, and by the early 19th century, the United States had embraced the trend as well. The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, opened vast stretches of the American interior to commerce and helped cement New York City’s role as a global trade hub. Other waterways, like the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Houston Ship Channel, followed in later decades, becoming essential arteries for domestic and international shipping.

But beneath the surface of these vital waterways lies a troubling reality: canals are often home to tragic accidents. The same features that make them valuable—tight navigation routes, constant vessel traffic, heavy cargo loads—also make them hazardous. Barge accidents, collisions, toxic exposures, and fatal mechanical failures are far more common than many realize. The crews operating these vessels and the workers maintaining the canals face daily risks that can lead to catastrophic injuries or death.

In this blog, we take a closer look at some of the most well-known canals in the United States, the accidents that have occurred there, and the systemic safety issues that continue to put lives at risk.

The Erie Canal: A Groundbreaking Achievement

First opened in 1821 and officially completed in 1825, the Erie Canal transformed the economic and geographic landscape of the United States. Stretching over 360 miles from Albany to Buffalo, this monumental waterway connected the Atlantic Ocean (via the Hudson River) to the Great Lakes, slashing transportation costs and opening the American interior to rapid development. It was, at the time, the longest artificial waterway in the Western Hemisphere and the largest public works project ever undertaken in North America. Its impact on trade, migration, and industry cannot be overstated.

Dubbed the “Mother of Cities,” the canal was instrumental in the rise of key urban centers along its route, including Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. It enabled the efficient movement of goods such as grain, lumber, and coal, fueling industrial growth and westward expansion. During the Civil War, the canal served as a vital supply line for Union forces.

But for all its contributions to commerce and national development, the Erie Canal—and its modern iterations—has never been without risks. Narrow channels, aging infrastructure, and heavy traffic continue to pose serious hazards to workers and vessel operators. Today, sections of the Erie Canal are still in use, maintained by the New York State Canal Corporation, and serve recreational and commercial functions.

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW): A Vital Route with Complex Risks

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is one of the most ambitious and heavily used navigation systems in the United States. Stretching more than 3,000 miles along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the ICW is a patchwork of natural inlets, bays, saltwater rivers, and manmade canals. It was designed to provide a protected shipping lane for commercial and recreational vessels, allowing them to bypass the rougher and more hazardous waters of the open ocean.

Portions of the ICW date back as far as 1787, when early efforts were made to link coastal communities and improve inland water transport. However, the modern iteration of the ICW wasn’t fully realized until the mid-20th century, when Congress authorized its construction and maintenance as a federally funded inland waterway system. By 1949, the main sections were largely completed. Today, the ICW remains divided into three major, non-contiguous sections due to cost concerns and environmental impact: the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and the segment connecting the two via Florida's Okeechobee Waterway.

The ICW is an essential corridor for barges, tugs, cargo vessels, military craft, and recreational boaters alike. It passes through major port cities, like Norfolk, Charleston, Miami, New Orleans, and Houston, facilitating billions of dollars in commercial activity every year. Despite its importance, the ICW presents serious navigational and occupational hazards, especially for maritime workers and crewmembers operating in its often narrow and congested waterways.

Unlike open-sea shipping routes, the ICW includes frequent bridges, locks, and shallow, shifting channels. Crews must navigate tight turns, avoid submerged debris, and contend with unpredictable tides and currents. Vessel traffic can include everything from massive tank barges to small private yachts, increasing the risk of collisions, particularly in areas with poor visibility or inadequate channel marking.

Bridge strikes, groundings, and equipment failures are not uncommon along the ICW. When these accidents occur, they often result in significant property damage, environmental spills, or, worse, serious injury to the crews involved. Workers can be thrown overboard, crushed between vessels, or injured by malfunctioning deck equipment. Maintenance and construction workers along the ICW are also vulnerable, often performing dangerous tasks in remote or poorly monitored areas with limited emergency response access.

The Houston Ship Channel

Part of the Port of Houston, one of the busiest shipping ports in the world, the Houston Ship Channel provides a connection between Houston-area terminals and the Gulf of Mexico, stretching across a distance of 50 miles. In use since 1836, the channel now handles approximately 50 deep water vessels each day, making it the busiest waterway in the nation. It’s also home to some of the worst canal accidents in the U.S. in recent years.

In March 2014, a barge carrying 1 million gallons of marine fuel collided with a ship in the Houston Ship Channel, causing an oil spill of 168,000 gallons into Galveston Bay. Two crew members were hospitalized with inhalation-related injuries. This accident spurred the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to recommend that “crews on vessels transporting hazardous materials receive appropriate training, personal protective gear, and access to direct-reading air monitoring equipment.”

In May 2019, the liquefied gas carrier Genesis River collided with a tank barge in the Houston Ship Channel, causing a spill of nearly a half a million gallons of reformate, a gasoline blending stock. The Genesis River had been transiting the channel at “sea speed,” around 12 knots, which affected the hydrodynamic effects of the banks and limited the carrier’s maneuverability.

Should a too large ship attempt to pass through the locks of a canal when there’s not enough water to support it, the ship could run aground and put its crew at risk. But it’s not just low water levels that can make canals dangerous to navigate. When there’s too much water, or a strong storm moves through the area, ships of all sizes can be in danger. Flooding can increase silt levels, which can be enough to limit passage. Docked ships may also be at risk of flooding should the water levels rise too high.

Common Hazards in Canal Work & Navigation

Canals are complex environments. While they may appear calm compared to open seas, they come with their own set of hazards that can be just as dangerous as open waters due to the confined, high-traffic, and mechanically intensive nature of these waterways. For the people who work on barges, ships, dredgers, and maintenance crews, canal-related hazards can result in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities.

Vessel Collisions & Allisions

Narrow navigation channels, unpredictable currents, and heavy vessel traffic increase the risk of collisions. Allisions—when a moving vessel strikes a stationary object, such as a lock wall or bridge—are also a significant concern. These incidents often result in severe crush injuries, vessel capsizing, or structural damage that can put the entire crew at risk.

Equipment Failures

Canal work relies heavily on mechanical systems, such as winches, cranes, hydraulic gates, and propulsion equipment. If any of these components fail due to poor maintenance or manufacturing defects, workers can be seriously injured. Sudden equipment malfunctions are especially dangerous when operating in tight quarters where escape or rescue may be difficult.

Lock & Gate Malfunctions

Locks are crucial for raising and lowering vessels between different water levels, but they are also one of the most hazardous parts of any canal system. Workers can be caught in pinch points, crushed by moving gates, or struck by pressurized water surges. Many lock systems are outdated, and if safety upgrades are neglected, the risk increases substantially.

Man Overboard Incidents

Despite calm waters, canal workers are at a constant risk of falling overboard, especially when transferring between vessels, walking on narrow decks, or handling lines. If a worker falls into a lock chamber or canal with strong currents, they can quickly be swept away or pinned against structures. Poor lighting, inclement weather, and slippery surfaces often contribute to these incidents.

Toxic Exposures

Many vessels traveling through canals transport hazardous materials, such as petroleum, chemicals, and industrial waste. Spills, leaks, or accidents involving these substances can result in toxic exposure. Inhalation of fumes or direct skin contact can lead to serious long-term health consequences, including respiratory damage and chemical burns.

Fires & Explosions

Barges carrying flammable cargo pose a constant fire and explosion risk, especially in tight canal corridors where heat and fumes can accumulate. Electrical faults, static discharges, or mechanical sparks can ignite these materials, placing entire crews in jeopardy.

Maintenance & Infrastructure Risks

Workers tasked with repairing or maintaining canal infrastructure face a different but equally serious set of hazards. Confined spaces, underwater inspections, and heavy machinery increase the risk of crush injuries, falls, and exposure to harmful environments. Many of these workers operate in remote stretches of waterway where emergency help may not arrive in time.

Fatigue & Understaffing

Long shifts, understaffed crews, and poor working conditions often lead to fatigue, a key factor in human error. Tired workers are more likely to make mistakes with equipment, navigation, or safety procedures, increasing the chances of serious accidents. It's up to employers to make sure that their employees are not overworked. 

Many of these hazards are preventable. When employers cut corners on safety protocols, fail to maintain equipment, or neglect to train their crews properly, they put lives at risk. The maritime and canal industries are bound by strict safety regulations, including those set by OSHA and the U.S. Coast Guard. Unfortunately, enforcement often falls short—and workers pay the price.

Employer Liability & Workers’ Rights

Working in and around canals comes with inherent risks. But when those risks are made worse by employer negligence, workers have legal rights. Maritime law provides strong protection for injured seamen and other maritime workers.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act (formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) is a federal law that allows seamen who are injured in the course of their employment to sue their employers for negligence. This law recognizes the dangerous nature of maritime work and imposes a legal duty on employers to provide a reasonably safe work environment.

Under the Jones Act, an employer may be held liable for injuries caused by:

• Unsafe working conditions (e.g., slippery decks, defective equipment)
• Inadequate training or supervision
• Lack of proper safety procedures
• Failure to maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition
• Overworking or understaffing crews
• Negligence of a fellow crew member or supervisor

Even a small degree of employer fault can be enough to recover damages under the Jones Act. This is significantly more favorable to workers than many land-based workers’ compensation systems, which often limit what injured employees can recover.

Suggestions for Further Reading: 

• Am I Covered by the Jones Act? 
• What Is a Jones Act Vessel?

The Doctrine of Unseaworthiness

In addition to the Jones Act, maritime workers are also protected by the legal doctrine of unseaworthiness under general maritime law. This doctrine holds that a vessel owner has an absolute duty to ensure their vessel is reasonably fit for its intended use.

If a vessel—or even just part of it—is unfit or unsafe due to poor design, faulty equipment, understaffing, or unsafe work practices, the owner may be held strictly liable for resulting injuries, even if they were unaware of the condition.

Maintenance & Cure

All seamen injured on the job are also entitled to maintenance and cure, regardless of fault. This includes:

• Maintenance: Daily living expenses (e.g., food, rent) while recovering from the injury.
• Cure: Medical treatment, including hospital bills, prescriptions, rehabilitation, and other necessary care until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI).

Employers who delay or refuse to provide maintenance and cure can be held liable for additional damages, especially if the refusal is found to be willful or arbitrary.

Helping Crews Navigate Rough Waters

Working aboard a ship is a dangerous endeavor. Offshore work requires extensive training, proper protective equipment, and thoughtful communication to keep crew members safe, especially in tricky waterways like canals.

Arnold & Itkin has fought on behalf of crews and their families since 2004, representing those who need protection under maritime law. When the worst happens, crews rely on our maritime lawyers to get them the answers they deserve. No matter what.