Tugboats and towing – Professional Mariner

01 Jun

Loss of steering, valve misalignment cited in Vicksburg bridge strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On May 1, 2025, about 1454, the towing vessel Rickey Hughes was pushing 22 barges downbound on the Lower Mississippi River at mile 435.8 near Vicksburg, Miss., when the two lead barges on the starboard side of the tow contacted a fixed pier of the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge. As a result of the contact, seven barges broke…

15 May

Mate tells NTSB autopilot ‘tripped’ before tow hit Virginia bridge

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On June 15, 2024, about 1626 local time, the towing vessel Mackenzie Rose was pushing the loaded deck barge Weeks 281 while transiting the southern branch of the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Va., when the barge’s raked bow struck the Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad bridge. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported. The railroad…

15 May

Markey Machine appoints Eric Rose as president

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsDeck equipment, Tugboats and towing

(SEATTLE) — Markey Machine, one of America’s longest-standing manufacturers of marine deck machinery, has announced the appointment of Eric Rose as president. Founded in 1907, Markey Machine has spent more than a century designing and manufacturing winches and deck machinery for operators who depend on that equipment to perform under the most demanding conditions in the world. Rose brings extensive…

13 May

Unexpected current led to Galveston barge breakaway, oil spill

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

(WASHINGTON) — On May 15, 2024, about 0947 local time, the towing vessel LCPL Phillip C George was departing the Texas International Terminal in Galveston, Texas, pushing two loaded tank barges, when the port quarter of the towboat struck a terminal dolphin. One of the barges, MMLP 321, separated from the tow and struck a power transmission pole and the…

11 May

Captain’s cellphone use cited in collision, sinking of towboat

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On Dec. 29, 2024, about 1934 local time, the towing vessel Patrick J Studdert and bulk carrier Clara B collided while underway on the Lower Mississippi River at mile 122 near Luling, La. Patrick J Studdert sank, forcing all five crewmembers to abandon the vessel into the water. A sheen of diesel fuel was visible downriver. The crew…

08 May

Industry veteran Capt. Rick Iuliucci retiring at Vane Brothers

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsTugboats and towing

(SALISBURY, Md.) — Vane Brothers has announced that Capt. Rick Iuliucci, vice president of operations, is retiring effective July 1. In a related move, the company is promoting three maritime professionals into key leadership positions that guarantee continued operational effectiveness. An official change of command takes place on June 1. At that time, Brendan MacGillivray assumes the role of Vane…

21 Apr

Army Corps plan boosts Great Lakes navigation funding

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Ports, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(WASHINGTON) — In early April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released its navigation work plan for fiscal year 2026. The overall plan outlines resources that will be used for dredging, structure maintenance, and other priorities at every port in the United States. The USACE Detroit District staff has since compiled a summary/funding analysis of Great Lakes provisions, which…

17 Apr

Debris in water possible culprit in Ohio River barge breakaway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On April 16, 2024, about 0445 local time, the barges MPC 907 and MPC 644 broke free from their moorings at the Marathon Petroleum Co. (MPC) terminal dock at mile 793.8 on the Ohio River, near Evansville, Ind. The two barges contacted mooring cells about 1,500 feet downstream at the TransMontaigne terminal at mile 794.1. The barges were…

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…