NTSB issued an investigation report on a fire and explosion incident onboard the fishing vessel ‘Hit List’ while in Merrimack River, in August 2018. The investigation found the fire was caused by failure of a hydraulic hose fitting. Meanwhile, the water used for firefighting efforts contributed to the vessel’s sinking.
Ireland’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) issued an investigation report on a fatal incident involving the fishing vessel ‘Aisling Patrick’ 15 nm off Broadhaven, Co Mayo, on 10th April 2018, that resulted in one fatality. The report highlighted poor training and maintenance, as well as inefficient EPIRB.
Canada announced the lifting of navigation restrictions in certain zones previously identified in Interim Order no.3 Respecting Flooded Areas, due to improved navigational safety conditions and following consultations with local authorities and law enforcement.
The rain that is pouring along the US Midwest and Great Plains has closed refineries, flooded streets and led to problems for the Mississippi River traffic. What is more, there is no sign of that this situation will stop soon, coming to add to the US’s most wet 12-month period ever recorded.
Two unmanned barges broke loose Wednesday night from their mooring site in the Port of Muskogee, staying adrift for several hours on the swollen Arkansas River, Oklahoma, before they crashed into a dam, Thursday. The barges were carrying about 3,800 pounds of phosphate fertilizer between them.
Because of the alarming rising levels seen on Mississippi River, Bloomberg informs that the Morganza Floodway may be opened for the third time in the history, increasing the possibilities of flooding a large part of rural Louisiana and affecting refineries in the region.
A towboat hit St. Louis’ Eads Bridge on May 3, possibly because of increasing flood waters. According to USCG officials, the tugboat was damaged to its pilot house but there were no injuries. The bridge was not harmed neither. After the accident, USCG closed a part of the Mississippi to all ship traffic from mile marker 179 to 184,
The Swedish Club issued an alert on the unprecedented increase that the Upper Mississippi river is expected to experience. Specifically, the rises of 6 to 7 feet are expected on the Upper Mississippi above the junction with the Ohio River, according to forecast of May 1, from Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, LMRFC.
Marc Garneau, the Canadian Minister of Transport, issued a new Interim Order expanding areas in which navigation is not allowed in certain areas of flooding in order to protect the safety of people and vessels, and help first responders do their jobs in flooding conditions. The public is also called to stay off all flooded waterways in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick to ensure navigational safety, and prevent damage to infrastructure and the environment.
The US NTSB issued an investigation report on the capsizing of the fishing vessel ‘Misty Blue’ in December 2017, in the Atlantic Ocean, which resulted in two fatalities and marine pollution. The report identified flooding of the port clam tank as the key cause of the accident.
