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Pilot On Phone Crashes Tow Into Moored Barges On Mississippi River, Says NTSB
A distracted and sleep-deprived pilot caused a towboat collision on the lower Mississippi River last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a report released Thursday.
On April 17, 2024, the towing vessel William B Klunk was pushing 22 loaded hopper barges when it hit moored barges at a fleeting area near Baton Rouge. The impact caused 13 barges from the tow to break loose, and three barges from the moored group also broke away.
The collision damaged several vessels, a fleet crew boat, and two mooring dolphins. One person suffered a minor injury. The total estimated damage was around $810,000.
The NTSB found that the pilot was distracted due to cellphone use. According to the report, the pilot admitted to using his personal phone while navigating. For nearly six minutes before the crash, the pilot did not adjust the rudder or throttle, even as the tow headed directly toward the fleeting area.
Footage from the onboard image recorder system showed the pilot using his phone and not keeping watch just 40 seconds before the crash.
Further investigation revealed that during the 1.5 hours leading up to the incident, the pilot was involved in several non-operational tasks. These included a phone call with the company’s safety officer for administrative reasons, a personal phone call, and text messaging.
The NTSB noted that cellphone use, whether personal or company-related, should never distract someone responsible for navigating a vessel. It stated that operating companies should have clear rules on cellphone use and that crew members should understand and follow them.
The report also said fatigue played a role in the incident. The pilot had only about four hours of continuous sleep in the 36 hours before the collision.
At the time of the crash, he had been awake for nearly 18 hours. Investigators said fatigue affects attention, alertness, and the ability to handle multiple tasks, making distractions more dangerous.
The findings are detailed in Marine Investigation Report 25-26.
Reference: NTSB
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