Tugboats and towing – Page 2 – Professional Mariner

05 May

NTSB cites exposed ducting in engine room fire on towboat

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — A catastrophic engine failure led to a fire aboard a towing vessel on the Tennessee River last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. An engine room fire broke out on Jan. 30, 2024, aboard the towing vessel Johnny M, which was pushing four barges on the Tennessee River near Grand Rivers, Ky. The six crewmembers…

24 Apr

Outdraft current at McAlpine Locks cited in tow strike, breakaway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — A barge tow struck a vane dike on the Ohio River last year because the pilot did not effectively compensate for the outdraft current while navigating out of the McAlpine Locks in Louisville, Ky., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. The towing vessel Amber Brittany was transiting the Ohio River on March 8, 2024, pushing 15…

16 Apr

Overheating DEF dosing modules draw Coast Guard concern

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard issues findings of concern to disseminate information related to unsafe conditions that were identified as causal factors in a casualty and could contribute to future incidents. Findings of concern are intended to educate the public, state or local agencies about the conditions discovered so they may address the findings with an appropriate voluntary action…

26 Mar

Mate didn’t realize extent of crane’s reach before mast strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — The mast of a crane barge hit a North Charleston Terminal ship-to-shore crane while the ship-to-shore crane was conducting cargo operations in North Charleston, S.C., last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday. The contact resulted in over $4.5 million in damage to the ship-to-shore crane. The towing vessel Royal Engineer was transiting the Cooper River…

10 Mar

Safety alert: Recalled defective mechanical heat detectors

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSafety alert, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard recently investigated an engine room fire on an inspected towing vessel which led to the discovery of issues with the maintenance and installation of fire detection systems on multiple towing vessels. During the investigation, several towing vessels were discovered to have defective heat detectors installed in their engine rooms. These detectors had been recalled…

05 Mar

Degraded dock collapses in Louisiana after barge strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — About 150 feet of a degraded dock in Chalmette, La., collapsed into the Lower Mississippi River in 2023 after a barge contact, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. The towing vessel Ovide J was maneuvering two loaded crude oil barges to the Chalmette Refinery crude oil dock on April 25, 2023, when the starboard barge struck…

04 Mar

SS United States, slated to become reef, arrives in Alabama

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSalvage, Tugboats and towing

(MOBILE, Ala.) — SS United States arrived in Mobile on Monday after an 1,800-mile tow from its berth in Philadelphia. The iconic national symbol and last surviving American ocean liner will now undergo preparations for deployment as the world’s largest artificial reef off Florida’s Gulf Coast near Destin-Fort Walton Beach. In the spirit of its record-breaking history, "America’s flagship" concluded…

20 Feb

Tidewater appoints Chris Mack as VP of marine operations

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsTugboats and towing

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) — Tidewater has appointed Chris Mack as the company's new vice president of marine operations. With an extensive background in maritime transportation and operations, Mack brings over two decades of industry experience to the Tidewater team. Mack earned his bachelor's degree in maritime transportation from the California State University Maritime Academy and received his master's degree in marine…

18 Feb

Crew rescued after tugboat catches fire on Delaware River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsTugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(PHILADELPHIA) — The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a tugboat fire Tuesday near Pea Patch Island on the Delaware River. All four crewmembers on board were safely evacuated from the vessel by good Samaritans. The fire has been extinguished and the vessel was placed under tow. The Coast Guard did not identify the tugboat by name. Coast…

10 Feb

Incorrect air draft estimate led to crane hitting Mackinac Bridge

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

(WASHINGTON) — A captain and barge company managers not identifying that the crane they were towing was too high to pass under the Mackinac Bridge near Mackinaw City, Mich., led to the crane hitting the bridge, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Monday. On May 7, 2023, the towing vessel Nickelena was transiting the Straits of Mackinac, towing a…