Casualty News – Page 2 – Professional Mariner

03 Apr

NTSB: Lack of spotter led to crane toppling off Virginia barge

Rich MillerCasualty NewsNTSB

(WASHINGTON) — A crane toppled off a Virginia barge last year because no spotter was present to notice the crane being driven too far aft, and the cable system securing the crane to the barge failed, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined. While working on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project near Norfolk on Feb. 8, 2022, an…

29 Mar

10 barges break free on Ohio River; three pinned at dam

Rich MillerCasualty Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Emergency teams worked to secure 10 barges that broke loose from a towboat Tuesday on the Ohio River in Louisville, Ky., including a barge carrying 1,400 metric tons of methanol that is partially submerged, NPR reported. "There is currently zero evidence of a tank breach or any leaks, and air and water monitoring resources are in place,"…

27 Mar

NTSB: Incorrect estimate of crane height led to bridge strike

Rich MillerCasualty Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — An incorrect estimate of a crane’s boom height led to contact with the Houma Twin Span Bridge last year in Houma, La., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. On March 6, 2022, the towing vessel Robert Cenac was transiting the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, pushing the crane barge Mr. Dawg and another deck barge. While attempting to…

20 Mar

Deteriorated bollard led to breakaway and allision, NTSB says

Rich MillerCasualty NewsU.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A deteriorated bollard led to a mobile offshore drilling unit breaking away and striking a cargo vessel in Pascagoula, Miss., last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined. The breakaway resulted in nearly $5 million in damage. On March 12, 2022, the mobile offshore drilling unit Valardis DS-16 was at the ST Engineering Halter Marine and…

07 Mar

Grounded yacht pulled from Maui rocks after two weeks

Rich MillerCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(HONOLUA BAY, MAUI) – A yacht, fast aground just outside the Honolua-Mokule’ia Marine Life Conservation District since Feb. 20, was pulled off the nearshore rocks on Sunday. The salvage ship Kahi, operated by Visionary Marine LLC, and the tractor tug Mary Catherine, operated by Sause Brothers Inc., both based in Honolulu, worked in tandem. A crew from the salvage ship…

01 Mar

Salvage crews recover submerged tugboat in Juneau

Rich MillerCasualty NewsSalvage, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(JUNEAU, Alaska) – Recovery of the tugboat Tagish was completed Sunday and the vessel was secured on the beach at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel. Contractors dewatered and defueled the 107-foot tugboat prior to dismantling and placing it on a barge, in pieces, for its final disposal out of state. The Coast Guard’s mission during this recovery was…

28 Feb

Towboat pilot never reported hitting Louisiana bridge, NTSB says

Rich MillerCasualty Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A Louisiana barge tow struck and damaged a bridge in 2021 but the towboat’s pilot never reported the incident to authorities, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. In the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2021, the towboat Miss Mollye D was pushing six hopper barges on the Intracoastal Waterway to New Orleans when the pilot…

15 Feb

NTSB: Combustibles near hot work led to New Orleans steamboat fire

Rich MillerCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB

(WASHINGTON) — Combustible materials left unprotected near hot work led to a fire on a passenger vessel in New Orleans, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. The fire resulted in $1.5 million in damage to the vessel. The passenger vessel Natchez was moored and out of service when a fire broke out on May 3, 2022. Natchez operated…

08 Feb

Responders to raise partially submerged tug at Alaska dock

Rich MillerCasualty NewsTugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(JUNEAU, Alaska) — Removal operations for a tugboat partially submerged at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel, Alaska, are scheduled, weather pending, to be conducted later this week and into the weekend. Melino’s Marine Services, the contracted salvage company, plans to remove the vessel utilizing a barge and crane system that are currently en route from Bellingham, Wash. The…

06 Feb

Coast Guard suspends search for tug crewman near Sabine

Rich MillerCasualty Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(HOUSTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday for a missing tugboat crewmember near Sabine, Texas. Coast Guard crews searched approximately 206 square miles for a combined 23 search hours. “The tough decision of suspending a search is vetted through many channels and is never taken lightly,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Schwind, search and rescue mission coordinator, Sector…