NTSB issues report on sinking of towing vessel Jim Marko

No one was injured and an undetermined amount of oil was released

TheNational Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued aMarine Accident Brief on thesinking of towing vessel Jim Marko.

About 1200 on Tuesday, July 1, the uninspected towing vessel Jim Marko sank at mile marker 181.6 on the Upper Mississippi River, near St. Louis, Missouri. At the time, the vessel was transiting upriver with a crew of four to a barge fleeting area near Venice, Illinois, immediately northeast across the river from St. Louis.

RelatedNews

JTSB releases its final report on Wakashio grounding

NTSB Investigation: Grounding of tugboat CC Portland

No one was injured in the accident; however, the sinking resulted in damage exceeding the insured value of the vessel, and an undetermined amount of oil was released into the river.

Salvage costs were $290,500 and repairs were estimated to exceed the Jim Markos reported insured value of $800,000. Rather than repair the damaged vessel, Osage Marine Services sold it. The salvage report indicated that about 2,500 gallons of fuel/water mixture were recovered from the vessels fuel tanks.

Probable Cause

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of towing vessel Jim Marko was the captain’s decision to continue operations with a known hull breach in the vicinity of the vessel’s waterline. Contributing to the rapid sinking was a lack of watertight integrity due to watertight doors on the main deck left open while under way.

Safety Issues

Abandoning Ship: Crewmembers should wear appropriate personal protection equipment for their operations under way and should always wear personal flotation devices when abandoning ship. Two crewmembers on the Jim Marko were barefoot and one did not wear a personal flotation device. The Mississippi River was experiencing high water conditions, which would have posed a heightened risk had crewmembers been forced to abandon ship into the water. 

Watertight Integrity: A hole in the side shell of a vessel, especially a large one near the waterline, poses a serious risk. When a potential hull breach has been identified, operations should be halted until repairs can be made or the crew can determine that the damage does not affect seaworthiness.

Watertight Doors: Water- and weathertight doors should be kept closed when a vessel is under way, unless the crew must pass through them. These doors are critical for preventing ingress of water or stopping its spread if a hull breach and/or flooding occurs.

For more information please read the Marine Accident Brief by clicking below: