Text and Photos by NTSB
NTSB issued an investigation report on the contact of the tanker American Liberty with multiple vessels, including the Don D, African Griffon, Ever Grace, and multiple hopper barges, in Lower Mississippi River in May 2019.
The investigation highlighted poor bridge resource management and miscommunication between the pilot and the master as key causes of the accident.
On May 16, 2019, at 2042 local time, the fully laden product tanker American Liberty got underway with a pilot on the Lower Mississippi River, at mile 140.2 near Reserve, Louisiana, when the bridge team lost control of the vessel in the fast current, and made contact with moored vessels, barges, and wharfs along the left descending bank from miles 139.5 to 138.7 as it moved down river.
The investigation highlighted poor bridge resource management and miscommunication between the pilot and the master as key causes of the accident.
On May 16, 2019, at 2042 local time, the fully laden product tanker American Liberty got underway with a pilot on the Lower Mississippi River, at mile 140.2 near Reserve, Louisiana, when the bridge team lost control of the vessel in the fast current, and made contact with moored vessels, barges, and wharfs along the left descending bank from miles 139.5 to 138.7 as it moved down river.
