NTSB – Professional Mariner

05 Feb

NTSB: Ships’ wakes led to barge strike in New Orleans lock

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — Surging water from the Mississippi River led to a 2023 barge strike on a gate at Algiers Lock in New Orleans, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. The Algiers Lock connects the Mississippi River to a network of inland waterways. On July 4, 2023, the towing vessel Kitty was pushing two loaded tank barges into the…

02 Jan

NTSB renews call for passenger vessel SMS after Boston fire

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Passenger vessels, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — An improperly extinguished chafing fuel heating canister, canned heat used to keep food and beverages warm, led to a fire on the passenger vessel Spirit of Boston last year while moored at the Commonwealth Pier in Boston Harbor, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued four new safety…

13 Dec

NTSB to host forum on transportation automation

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsAutonomous shipping, NTSB

(WASHINGTON) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold an in-person public forum, "Automation in Transportation: Lessons for Safe Implementation," on March 11-12 in Washington, D.C. The forum, led by NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy with participation by all NTSB board members, will focus on safety issues related to automation in all transportation modes: aviation, highway, rail, pipeline and marine.…

06 Dec

Wind led houseboat to hit fuel pump, causing marina fire

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB

(WASHINGTON) — On Aug. 10, 2023, about 1705 local time, the rental houseboat Flagship 604 (state number TN 0174 BD 219), with nine people aboard, was docking at the Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tenn., to refuel when the bow struck one of the marina’s gasoline fuel pumps, knocking it over. Minutes later, a fire began near…

22 Nov

Parted wire forces crew to release barges, causing dock strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On January 29, about 1230 local time, the towing vessel Nell Womack was pushing hopper barges ACL23401 and ACBL2549 upbound on the Lower Mississippi River when one of two facing wires connecting the towing vessel to barge ACL23401 parted. When it became unsafe for the towing vessel to remain attached by one facing wire, the crew released the…

21 Nov

NTSB: Mate misjudged approach to unlit pier before allision

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On July 8, 2023, at 2326, the towing vessel Danny Terral was pushing six loaded barges on the Calcasieu River in Louisiana when the starboard lead barge contacted a pier while docking at the Port of Lake Charles. Damage to the pier was estimated to be about $1 million. The tow remained intact, and there was no reported…

08 Oct

Deck hand asleep at helm led to Columbia River dock strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — A deck hand at the helm of a towing vessel had fallen asleep before the tow struck a dock near Clatskanie, Ore., last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. The deck hand of the towing vessel Cindy B was experiencing the effects of fatigue while at the helm on Nov. 12, 2023. The towing vessel…

24 Sep

Assist tug destroys fender after ATB lined up incorrectly

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

(WASHINGTON) — The deteriorated fender system protecting the Hylebos Bridge in Tacoma, Wash., was damaged beyond repair last October after being struck by a tugboat assisting an articulated tug-barge (ATB). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday that the captain of the ATB did not line up the vessel correctly to safely transit under the bridge. The tugboat Olympic…

19 Sep

NTSB cites excess tension on lines in bulker breakaway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB

(WASHINGTON) — While loading a cargo of coal on March 27, 2023, the bulk carrier Sirocco broke free from its moorings at the Convent Marine Terminal dock in Convent, La., drifted a half mile down the Mississippi River and struck a barge moored at the Mosaic Uncle Sam dock, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. An examination of…

06 Sep

NTSB to Coast Guard: Finish work on passenger vessel SMS

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, NTSB, U.S. Coast Guard

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) — On the fifth anniversary of the 2019 Conception dive boat fire that killed 34 people, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy held a media availability with the families of the victims and again called on the U.S. Coast Guard to require safety management systems (SMS) for all U.S.-flagged passenger vessels. “For five years, I’ve…