National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Brief
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued Marine Accident Brief regarding the capsizing of towing vessel Megan McB.
On July 3, 2013, at 0558 local time, the uninspected towing vessel Megan McB lost engine throttle control while the crew was trying to maneuver the vessel into the main lock of Lock and Dam 7 on the Mississippi River near La Crescent, Minnesota.
Without engine throttle control to maneuver the vessel, the strong river current swept the Megan McB into gate no. 1 of the dam, where the vessel became pinned and capsized. One crewmember died in the accident.
On July 16, 2013, salvage efforts were concluded when Brennan Marine removed the Megan McB from the dam. The vessel had not sustained hull damage; however, flooding damage of interior spaces and equipment was estimated at $500,000. As of the date of this report, the Megan McB remains out of service at the Brennan Marine facility.
| The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the capsizing of towing vessel Megan McB was the replacement pilots unfamiliarity with the vessels electronic engine control throttles, which resulted in his inability to avoid gate no. 1 of Lock and Dam 7. Contributing to the capsizing was Brennan Marines lack of effective procedures to ensure that the Megan McB was operated by a replacement pilot familiar with the electronic engine control throttles, which were unique to this one vessel in the company fleet. |
Further details may be found by reading the NTSB Marine Accident Brief
