NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said a catastrophic engine failure led to a fire aboard a towing vessel, Johnny M, on the Tennessee River last year.

An engine-room fire broke out on January 30, 2024, aboard the towing vessel Johnny M, which was pushing four barges on the Tennessee River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky. The six crewmembers aboard were unable to extinguish the fire using the CO2 fixed-fire-extinguishing system and abandoned ship to a Good Samaritan vessel. Continue reading “NTSB report on fire on board towing vessel Johnny M”

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision after the Key Bridge collapse.

The NTSB found the Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the containership Dali on March 26, 2024, was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges, according to guidance established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO. Over the last year, the NTSB identified 68 bridges that were designed before the AASHTO guidance was established — like the Key Bridge — that do not have a current vulnerability assessment. Continue reading “NTSB recommends risk assessments after Key Bridge collapse”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said released a report on the sinking of the Jacqueline A last year in the Atlantic Ocean, which was due to a lack of watertight integrity.

The towing vessel was en route from Virginia to a Louisiana shipyard, where the vessel was to be brought into compliance with regulations. It began taking on water on 8 August 2023, while off the coast of South Carolina. The three crewmembers, hired for the voyage, abandoned the vessel and were rescued by local emergency responders.

Continue reading “NTSB report: Flooding and sinking of towing vessel Jacqueline A”