Casualty News – Page 2 – Professional Mariner

09 Apr

Tug sinks after striking submerged object in Baltimore

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, Tugboats and towing

(BALTIMORE) — A tugboat sank after striking an object in Curtis Creek on Wednesday morning, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment and local news outlets. Baltimore City Fire Department Marine Operations received a mayday call over VHF radio from the tugboat Gale, reporting that it had struck an object and was taking on water. The Baltimore City Fireboat…

01 Apr

Florida tug captain charged in collision that killed three children

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsLicensing and training, Tugboats and towing

(MIAMI) — A tugboat captain has been charged with seaman’s manslaughter after operating a barge with obstructed visibility and without a proper lookout, resulting in a fatal collision in Biscayne Bay that killed three children. “Our hearts are with the families of the children who lost their lives in this tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quinones for the Southern…

26 Mar

O-ring failure led to engine room fire on bulker in Alabama

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — On Jan. 4, 2025, about 2323 local time, the bulk carrier Lem Verbena was docked at the Alabama State Docks on the Mobile River in Mobile, Ala., with 19 crewmembers on board when a fire started in the engine room. The crew activated the vessel’s carbon-dioxide fixed fire extinguishing system. Shoreside firefighters later determined the fire had been…

26 Mar

Ships entangled after collision on Mississippi River near New Orleans

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is responding after two vessels, the freighter Pac Dubhe and bulk carrier African Buzzard, collided and subsequently grounded near mile marker 124.5 on the Mississippi River on Monday. African Buzzard is currently aground. The two vessels are entangled, with African Buzzard's anchor lodged in the bow of Pac Dubhe. Both vessel operators are…

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…