22 Oct

NTSB urges inspections of life raft releases, evacuation slides like those on cruise ship

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
Nico Corbijn, senior vice president of marine operations for Majestic America Lines, and U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Brierley K. Ostrander, assistant chief of vessel inspections, Sector Juneau, examine a life raft aboard Empress of the North. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) Following the grounding of Empress of the North in May, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has strongly urged…
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22 Oct

NTSB cites docking pilot in Bayonne grounding

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
The containership struck on the north side of the Kill Van Kull channel just west of the Bayonne Bridge. (Ginny Howe Illustration/Source: Jeppesen Marine) Investigators blame the 2006 grounding of a containership near Bayonne, N.J., on a docking pilot's failure to use his radar, personnel and tugboats properly.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said an experienced member of the Metro…
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22 Oct

Failure to pin construction barge’s spuds caused fire fatal to six crew, NTSB says

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
The failure of Athena Construction to require its crews to pin spuds securely in place on its barges before getting underway was the cause of an Oct. 12, 2006, explosion that killed six, the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded.At about 1155 on Oct. 12, the towing vessel Miss Megan, operated by Central Boat Rentals Inc. of Morgan City, La.,…
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22 Aug

Captain drowns after passengers are unable to pull him back aboard charter fishing boat

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
The captain and owner of the 40-foot charter fishing boat Three Bears died May 13 after falling overboard about 15 miles southwest of Newport, Ore., on a calm sunny day.Skipper Jim Edson remained alongside the boat in the 51° water holding onto a life ring but lost consciousness within five minutes. He was not wearing a life jacket.According to one…
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