NTSB

Firefighting water contributes to vessel’s sinking

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an investigation report on a fire and explosion incident onboard the fishing vessel ‘Hit List’ while in Merrimack River off Massachusetts, in August 2018. The investigation found that the fire was caused by failure of a hydraulic hose fitting. Meanwhile, the water used for firefighting efforts contributed to the vessel’s sinking.

The incident

About 1725, on 24 August, a fire was detected in the engine compartment aboard the commercial...

https://safety4sea.com/firefighting-water-contributes-to-vessels-sinking/

NTSB: Unidentified source of fire led to ‘Logger’ sinking

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an investigation report on the fire onboard the fishing vessel ‘Logger’ while underway in Bering Sea, off Alaska in July 2018. The investigation could not establish the exact cause of the fire.

The incident

On 28 July 2018, about 0500 local time, the fish tender ‘Logger’ caught fire while under way in the Bering Sea off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula, about 55 miles west of Port Moller, Alaska.

The crew of three attempted to fight the...

https://safety4sea.com/ntsb-unidentified-source-of-fire-led-to-logger-sinking/

NTSB releases report on 2018 towboat allison on Lower Miss

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released the report of its investigation of the May 2018 allision of the towing vessel Steve Richoux on the Lower Mississippi River at New Orleans.

On May 7, 2018, the 1,800-hp Steve Richoux with five crewmembers on board was downbound on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, pushing six loaded cement barges when a steering system failure occurred. The pilot and the captain tried to regain steering control of the vessel. Despite their efforts, the...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/ntsb-releases-report-on-2018-towboat-allison-on-lower-miss/

Vessel contact with pier linked to inaccurate labeling of alarms

The US NTSB issued an investigation report on the contact of the towing vessel ‘Steve Richoux’ with a pier on the Mississippi River, caused by a steering system failure. There were no pollution or injuries, but estimated property damage exceeded $3 million.

The incident

On 7 May 2018, about 1848 local time, the towing vessel Steve Richoux with five crew members was downbound on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, pushing six loaded cement barges when a steering system failure...

https://safety4sea.com/vessel-contact-with-pier-linked-to-inaccurate-labeling-of-alarms/

Inexperienced pilot the cause of fatal towing vessel sinking

NTSB published its report on the capsizing and sinking of the towing vessel Natalie Jean, on March 12, 2018, on the Lower Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana. Two of the three crewmembers on board the towboat died in the accident.

The incident

On March 11, the day before the accident, the owner met the pilot at the vessel, which was docked at John W Stone Oil Distribution in Gretna, Louisiana, for a brief discussion about the transit. The pilot said that the owner informed him they...

https://safety4sea.com/inexperienced-pilot-the-cause-of-fatal-towing-vessel-sinking/

NTSB issues safety recommendations to improve barge fleeting area safety

The National Transportation Safety Board’s Marine Accident Brief 19/11 published late last month contains three safety recommendations issued to the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, based upon findings of the NTSB’s investigation of a Jan. 13, 2018, barge breakaway.

MAB 19/11 details the findings, probable cause and safety recommendations stemming from the NTSB’s investigation of a 27 dry-cargo barge breakaway from the Jacks Run fleeting area, at mile 4, right descending bank, of the...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/ntsb-issues-safety-recommendations-to-improve-barge-fleeting-area-safety/

NTSB: Barge’s anchor damaging underwater pipelines

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an investigation report on the anchor contact of the Articulated Tug and Barge ‘Clyde S VanEnkevort/ Erie Trader’ with underwater pipelines which resulted in an oil spill and significant damage.

The incident

At 1732 local time on 1 April 2018, the articulated tug and barge (ATB) Clyde S VanEnkevort/ Erie Trader was westbound with a crew of 14 in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan, when the barge’s starboard anchor, which had unknowingly...

https://safety4sea.com/ntsb-barges-anchor-damaging-underwater-pipelines/

Poor maintenance led to barge breakaway in Ohio River

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an investigation report on a barge breakaway incident in the Ohio River which caused an estimated $12.5 million damage and an unknown release of coal and cement into the water.

The incident

On 13 January 2018, at 0630 local time, 27 dry cargo barges broke free from the Jacks Run barge fleeting area at mile 4 on the right descending bank of the Ohio River near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The barges drifted uncontrolled downriver and, beginning at...

https://safety4sea.com/poor-maintenance-led-to-barge-breakaway-in-ohio-river/

Crankcase breach of port main engine leads to fire

The US  National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an investigation report on the engine room fire onboard the towing vessel ‘Leland Speakes’ on the Lower Mississippi River, in February 2018. A catastrophic failure and crankcase breach of the port main engine caused the fire.

The incident

On 21 February 2018, at 0740, the towing vessel ‘Leland Speakes’ was pushing 21 barges upbound on the Lower Mississippi River when a fire broke out in the engine room at mile 520.6, south of Greenville,...

https://safety4sea.com/crankcase-breach-of-port-main-engine-leads-to-fire/

Lack of maintenance and safety management caused the explosion on barge off Texas

An explosion and fire aboard the articulated tug and barge ‘Buster Bouchard‘ was the result of a lack of effective maintenance and safety management of the barge by the owner company, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a report released Thursday.

The incident

On 20 October 2017, at 0430 local time, the crews of the articulated tug and barge (ATB) Buster Bouchard/B. No. 255 were preparing to get under way from anchorage to proceed into the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas,...

https://safety4sea.com/lack-of-maintenance-and-safety-management-caused-the-explosion-on-barge-off-texas/

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