Neglected Helm Leads to $2 Million Towing Vessel Grounding on the Mississippi River

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has shared new insights about a serious grounding incident involving the towing vessel City of Louisville on the Mississippi River.This mishap took place on July 29, 2023, when the vessel was pushing 11 barges upstream near Thebes, Illinois. Unfortunately,it ran aground,leading to meaningful damage—around $2 million worth—to its hull and engine room. Flooding ensued in several compartments, and about 30 gallons of gear oil leaked into the river. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.

Investigators found that during this incident, the pilot had briefly left the helm unattended for around five minutes to check something on the port side of the wheelhouse. In that short time frame, he missed a crucial turn to starboard along a recommended route.

The NTSB pointed out how risky it is indeed to leave controls unattended on busy waterways like the Mississippi River due to strong currents and heavy traffic. They highlighted that even a momentary lapse can lead to dangerous situations.

Interestingly enough, while examining safety measures onboard, investigators noted that although there was an alerter system designed to notify crew members if an operator became unresponsive or inattentive, its power supply had been disconnected—though they couldn’t pinpoint when this happened.

In light of these findings, NTSB officials stressed how vital it is for companies operating vessels like these to have clear protocols regarding their alerter systems in their safety management plans. They suggested that alert intervals should be tailored based on navigational challenges and nearby hazards.

For those interested in diving deeper into this case and understanding more about maritime safety protocols or similar incidents across different cultures or industries—like fishing fleets in Southeast Asia facing similar issues with equipment failure—the complete report can be accessed through Marine Examination Report 25-19.

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