Accident Reports

gCaptain’s full coverage of official casualty reporting in maritime, offshore and shipping.


Thursday, February 15, 2024
Hotspur pictured earlier in Ketchikan, Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard Photo
Accidents

NTSB Report: Flooding and Non-Operational Alarms Led to Fishing Vessel Loss

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that the likely cause of the capsizing and sinking of the fishing vessel Hotspur near Nunez

February 15, 2024
Total Views: 7686

Thursday, February 8, 2024
Big D (top) and Carol McManus (bottom) pictured before the collision. (Source: Florida Marine Transporters (top), Ingram Barge Company (bottom))
Shipping

Critical Communication Error Leads to Tow Collision Mississippi River

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified a critical error in communication as the cause of a collision between two tows in the

February 8, 2024
Total Views: 8860

Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Carib Trader II precasualty. (Source: Gordon Dalzell, shipspotting.com via NTSB)
Accidents

NTSB Investigation Reveals Probable Cause of ‘Carib Trader II’ Sinking

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its investigation report into the sinking of the Carib Trader II during a dead ship tow from the

February 7, 2024
Total Views: 11704

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
The L/B Robert listing to port as seen on November 21, 2022. U.S. Coast Guard Photo
Accidents

Gulf of Mexico Liftboat Accident Underscores Weather-Related Risks

The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday issued its report into the listing of an elevated liftboat caused by storm with gale-force winds and high

January 10, 2024
Total Views: 5763

Wednesday, January 3, 2024
The Coast Guard and good Samaritans rescued 13 people from the 115-foot fishing vessel, Tremont, Oct. 28, 2022 after the fishing vessel and a containership reportedly collided 63 miles southeast of Chincoteague, Virginia. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City
Accidents

Collision Between Containership and Fishing Vessel Highlights Lack of Proper Lookout

A fishing vessel mate’s failure to maintain a proper lookout and conducting maintenance on critical equipment while underway led to his vessel’s

January 3, 2024
Total Views: 20834

Wednesday, December 13, 2023
M/V Thorco Basilisk pictured underway before the equipment failure. (Source: VesselFinder via NTSB)
Accidents

Undetected Corrosion and Wear Lead to Equipment Failure on Cargo Ship -NTSB

A recent incident involving a cargo ship in Houston has brought attention to the importance of regular maintenance and inspection of equipment. According to

December 13, 2023
Total Views: 4950

Monday, December 11, 2023
Containers are seen at Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China July 4, 2019. Picture taken July 4, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
Shipping

Storm in China Should Serve as Wakeup Call for Climate Risk

By Katy Daigle and Simon Jessop DUBAI, Dec 12 (Reuters) – As Typhoon Doksuri aimed toward mainland China, major southeast ports were

December 11, 2023
Total Views: 3283

Wednesday, December 6, 2023
The container ship MSC Danit is seen the day after U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) marine casualty investigators boarded the container ship, off the Port of Long Beach, California, U.S. October 17, 2021. REUTERS/David Swanson
Accidents

NTSB Recommends Changes Following 2021 Oil Spill Off Southern California Coast

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended new alarms and procedures for pipeline incursions and a change to an anchorage following an oil

December 6, 2023
Total Views: 1327

Friday, December 1, 2023
Photo shows damage to the BBC Marmara's bow while in dry dock. Photo courtesy MAIB
Accidents

BBC Marmara Grounding: Investigation Report Reveals Alcohol Consumption as Contributing Factor

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has released its accident investigation report on the grounding of the cargo vessel BBC Marmara. The incident

December 1, 2023
Total Views: 5695

Thursday, November 30, 2023
Tank vessel Endo Breeze underway after the fire. (Source: Martine Klingsick, Shipspotting.com)
Accidents

Maintenance Error Causes Engine Room Fire on Tanker

An engine room fire aboard a Maltese-flagged tanker last year that resulted in $1.2 million in damages was caused by a maintenance error, according to the

November 30, 2023
Total Views: 4073

Friday, November 24, 2023
mpv everest fire investigation
Accidents

Fire on ‘MPV Everest’ Highlights Risks of Operating in Remote, Harsh Environments

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its report into a 2021 fire on board a multi-purpose vessel chartered by the Australian Antarctic

November 24, 2023
Total Views: 4620

Thursday, November 9, 2023
S-Trust at anchor following the casualty. U.S. Coast Guard Photo
Accidents

Thermal Runaway of Lithium-Ion Battery Destroys Tanker’s Bridge

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Thursday said that a fire on an oil tanker last year was caused by the thermal runaway of a cell within a

November 9, 2023
Total Views: 56727

Friday, November 3, 2023
polar research ship rrs sir david Attenborough
Accidents

MAIB Report Reveals Maintenance Failures in Lifeboat Drill Accident on New Polar Research Vessel

An investigation into a lifeboat drill accident on board the UK government’s state-of-the-art polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough has

November 3, 2023
Total Views: 8858

Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Tugboats spray water on the Spirit of Norfolk passenger vessel after a fire broke out near Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, June 7, 2022. Credit: U.S. Navy
Accidents

NTSB Recommends Engine-Room Fire Systems on Small Passenger Vessels

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued recommendations for the installation of engine-room fire detection and fixed fire extinguishing

October 24, 2023
Total Views: 2092

Thursday, October 12, 2023
Investigation Finds Master Asleep at the Wheel in Washington State Ferry Accident
Accidents

Investigation Finds Master Asleep at the Wheel in Washington State Ferry Accident

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board say the captain of the Washington State Ferry Cathlamet likely suffered from a bout of microsleep

October 12, 2023
Total Views: 42566

Thursday, September 21, 2023
CC Portland underway before the grounding. Source: VesselFinder.com via NTSB
Accidents

NTSB Urges Speed Limits for ASD Tugs During Harbor-Assist Maneuvers

The National Transportation Safety Board is encouraging owners and operators of azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tugs to set speed limits during certain

September 21, 2023
Total Views: 4010

Monday, September 11, 2023
Divers work aboard the Danish cargo ship Karin Hoej which collided with the British cargo ship Scot Carrier between Ystad and Bornholm, on the Baltic Sea December 13, 2021. Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency/via REUTERS
Accidents

UK Issues Investigation Report on Fatal ‘Scot Carrier’ Collision in Baltic Sea

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued its report into the fatal collision involving the UK-flagged general cargo Scot Carrier and

September 11, 2023
Total Views: 6969

Friday, September 8, 2023
The towing vessel Karen Koby and crane barge Ambition are pictured before the capsizing and sinking. Source: LA Carriers and Rigid Constructors via NTSB
Accidents

NTSB: Lack of Hull Inspection and Maintenance Caused Crane Barge to Capsize and Sink

The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the capsizing and sinking of the crane barge Ambition in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by the

September 8, 2023
Total Views: 6003

Thursday, August 17, 2023
Damage to the M/V AP Revelin's port quarter. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
Accidents

False Alarm Led to Propulsion Loss and Collision Between Cargo Ships in Sabine Pass

A collision between two cargo ships near Port Arthur, Texas last year was caused by a loss of propulsion resulting from a false alarm, the National

August 17, 2023
Total Views: 20413

Tuesday, August 1, 2023
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser, homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, transits toward the pier in Bridgetown, Barbados
Accidents

NTSB: Inadequate Lookouts Led to Collision Between US Coast Guard Cutter and Small Boat Off Puerto Rico

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the fatal collision between the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Winslow Griesser and a

August 1, 2023
Total Views: 50381