A crew member who suffered ‘life-altering­ injuries’ when a US Navy ship toppled over while in dry dock in ­Edinburgh has lodged a $10million ­(£8million) claim for damages.

Magin Luis Caballero is suing the US government after research vessel RV Petrel tipped at a 45-degree angle in strong winds in Leith on March 22 last year.

More than 30 people were hurt, with some sustaining life-changing injuries.

The RV Petrel ended up at a 45-degree angle during strong winds

Mr Caballero, from Houston, Texas, worked as an assistant cook on the ship for US Navy ­contractor Oceaneering International.

He claims he was thrown across the kitchen, smashing into a table, when the ship became dislodged. His lawyers say he has been unable to return to work and needs ‘serious, on­going medical care’.

They claim the US government failed to ­provide a safe working environment for him.

He is seeking $10million for ‘mental anguish, pain and suffering, physical impairment and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, past and future medical expenses, maintenance and cure, ­attorney’s fees and loss of earnings’.

The ship tipped over in dry dock

RV Petrel had been moored at the Leith ­dockyard since September 2020.

A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and Police Scotland into the incident is continuing.