NTSB cites poor communication, inaccurate AIS data in fatal collision
30 Nov

NTSB cites poor communication, inaccurate AIS data in fatal collision

Casualty News
Both towboats involved in a fatal collision in the Lower Mississippi River near Destrehan, La., in early 2020 broadcast inaccurate tow lengths over AIS, according to federal investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigated the collision involving Cooperative Spirit and R.C. Creppel, also cited inadequate communication between pilots helming the two tows in the minutes leading to the…
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NTSB: Sudden storm caused New Orleans containership breakaway
30 Nov

NTSB: Sudden storm caused New Orleans containership breakaway

Casualty News
Powerful winds from an unexpected thunderstorm blew a containership free from a New Orleans pier and damaged shoreside gantry cranes loading the vessel, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined.  The 1,099-foot CMA CGM Bianca was moored alongside the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal on Aug. 2, 2020. A sudden downburst from the thunderstorm buffeted the ship with 70-mph winds at about 1400.  “The vessel was…
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30 Nov

‘Historic’ Golden Ray salvage nearly complete

Casualty News
Salvors recently lifted the final cut section of Golden Ray from St. Simons Sound, Georgia, signaling the beginning of the end for one of the largest marine salvage operations in U.S. history. Weight-shedding teams will remove vehicles from the last section before it is placed on a dry-dock barge for transport to the Mayor’s Point Terminal for partial dismantling. Then it will be…
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Boxship breaks from berth in high winds, grounds in Prince Rupert
29 Nov

Boxship breaks from berth in high winds, grounds in Prince Rupert

Casualty News
(PRINCE RUPERT, British Columbia) — Strong winds caused a containership to break from its berth at the Fairfield Container Terminal on Nov. 24 and ground on nearby Digby Island, the Prince Rupert Port Authority reported. MSC Altair broke from its lines at about 2 p.m. and ran aground on the eastern side of the island. Multiple tugs refloated the ship,…
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Investigators cite master’s fatigue for tanker strike at Gulf platform
26 Nov

Investigators cite master’s fatigue for tanker strike at Gulf platform

Casualty News
(WASHINGTON) — A tanker operating company’s decision to change masters without a handover period led to a $72.9 million marine accident, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Marine Accident Brief 21/24. The brief details the NTSB’s investigation of the Oct. 17, 2020, striking of the oil and gas production platform SP-57B by the tanker Atina near Pilottown, La. Atina,…
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Mate misjudged speed of tow before hitting swing bridge, NTSB says
26 Nov

Mate misjudged speed of tow before hitting swing bridge, NTSB says

Brownwater, Casualty News
(WASHINGTON) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued Marine Accident Brief 21/23 for its investigation of the Nov. 14, 2020, accident involving the towing vessel Island Lookout and the Centerville Turnpike Bridge near Chesapeake, Va. Island Lookout was transiting eastbound with a crew of four on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, pushing the 295-foot-long barge BH 2903, which…
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Coast Guard identifies second boxship in California oil spill investigation
22 Nov

Coast Guard identifies second boxship in California oil spill investigation

Casualty News
(SAN PEDRO, Calif.) — Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) marine casualty investigators boarded the motor vessel Beijing on Thursday in the Port of Long Beach in connection with an anchor-dragging incident and subsequent offshore oil spill. Prior to the visit, Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Braden Rostad, chief of investigations, Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, determined that Beijing was…
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NTSB: Swing span over-rotated into channel before barge impact
17 Nov

NTSB: Swing span over-rotated into channel before barge impact

Casualty News
(WASHINGTON) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed its investigation of the Nov. 22, 2020, accident involving barges towed by the vessels Trent Joseph and George C. and the Barataria Bridge near Barataria, La. Trent Joseph and George C. were towing two barges southbound in the Barataria Waterway. While passing through the open Barataria Bridge, the second barge…
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NTSB cites fishing vessel’s course in fatal collision with tanker
04 Nov

NTSB cites fishing vessel’s course in fatal collision with tanker

Casualty News
(WASHINGTON) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued Marine Accident Brief 21/21 on Thursday for its investigation of the Jan. 14, 2020, fatal collision of the tanker Bow Fortune and commercial fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride near Galveston, Texas. Bow Fortune was transiting inbound in the Outer Bar Channel while Pappy’s Pride was transiting outbound. The two vessels collided in…
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