Casualty News – Professional Mariner

20 Mar

NTSB cites pilot’s ‘expectation bias’ in grounding of bulker

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsLicensing and training, NTSB, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — On Jan. 8, 2025, at 1813 local time, the dry bulk carrier Algoma Verity was transiting upbound on the Delaware River near Philadelphia, Pa., when it ran aground outside the channel. The vessel repositioned and continued its upbound transit, outside the channel, until it grounded again at 1828. Algoma Verity was refloated three days later. No pollution or…

18 Mar

Two mariners die in confined space on freight barge in Alaska

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsTugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(JUNEAU, Alaska) — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a fatal confined-space incident that occurred Sunday aboard the freight barge Waynehoe approximately 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. Of the four crewmembers involved in the incident, two are deceased. The other two crewmembers are reported to be in stable condition. Deceased are Ben Fowler and Sidney Mohorovich. Watch standers at the…

12 Mar

Tanker pilot transposed tugboat positions, leading to pier strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On Oct. 14, 2024, about 0412 local time, the crude oil tanker Platanos was undocking from the Martinez Refining Company wharf pier near Martinez, Calif., in the Carquinez Strait, when the vessel’s port quarter made contact with a concrete dolphin and a fender support panel of the pier. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported. Damage…

10 Mar

Fireboats respond to burning barge in Delaware Bay

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsTugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(PHILADELPHIA) — The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a barge fire Tuesday in Delaware Bay. Late Tuesday afternoon, the barge was currently being towed to approximately 2 miles off Maurice River Cove, N.J., to remove the threat from the main ship channel, where firefighting efforts will continue. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay has established a safety zone,…

09 Mar

Coast Guardsman fatally injured in rescue of distressed mariner

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSearch and rescue, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — A U.S. Coast Guard aviation survival technician died Thursday as a result of injuries suffered during the rescue of a distressed mariner from a commercial ship on Feb. 27. As part of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers was injured while responding to a medical emergency aboard the…

25 Feb

Salvors remove grounded barge from entrance to San Juan Harbor

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The unified command managing response efforts for the grounded barge Defiant announced the successful refloating and removal of the vessel from the Castillo San Felipe del Morro shoreline on Wednesday. The unified command said response personnel and contracted salvors refloated Defiant at 2:22 a.m., just before the arrival of high tide. Salvage crews and tugboat…

25 Feb

Injury highlights hazards to crew in tug-to-barge transits

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsTugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — While moored at a refinery in Chalmette, La., a towing vessel crewmember fell approximately 30 feet into the tow notch of an oceangoing articulated tug-barge (ATB) after overextending their reach and losing their footing while climbing the barge’s set-in pigeonholes. The fall resulted in multiple head and facial fractures and the crewmember became pinned within the tow notch,…

25 Feb

Destroyer CO removed from command after collision with oiler

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsLicensing and training

(WASHINGTON) — The commander of a guided-missile destroyer that collided with an oiler in the Caribbean Sea earlier this month has been removed from command, USNI News reported. Cmdr. James Koffi was removed from command of USS Truxtun (DDG-103) by U.S. 4th Fleet commander Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello following a Feb. 11 collision with U.S. Navy fleet oiler USNS Supply…

18 Feb

NTSB cites uncovered strainers in pier sinking of bulker Cuyahoga

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, NTSB

(WASHINGTON) — On March 18, 2025, about 1600 local time, the bulk carrier Cuyahoga was discovered partially flooded while docked on Lake Erie in Ashtabula, Ohio. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported. The vessel was dewatered and refloated. Salvage costs were undetermined; the vessel had previously been declared a constructive total loss as a result of extensive…

18 Feb

Salvors remove residual fuel from grounded barge in San Juan

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsPorts, Salvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The unified command announced salvors completed fuel removal operations Monday as assessments and preparations continue to remove a grounded fuel barge from the rocks along the San Felipe del Morro Castle shoreline. The barge Defiant grounded at about noon Feb. 9 just off the Port of San Juan harbor entrance. There were no reported injuries. The…