NTSB

gCaptain’s full coverage of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), including maritime accident reports, investigation updates, and marine casualty hearings.


Wednesday, April 10, 2024
NTSB investigators on the cargo vessel Dali, which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Peter Knudson/NTSB)
Accidents

NTSB Chair Homendy Provides Update on DALI-Francis Scott Key Bridge Investigation

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy has provided an update on the board’s ongoing investigation into the M/V Dali incident and

April 10, 2024
Total Views: 7956

Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Top: Susan K after the contact. Bottom: Susan K tow arrangement and cargoes, with outlines indicating barges damaged or sunk in the casualty. Credit: NTSB
Accidents

Captain’s Complacency Led to Bridge Strike on Mississippi River

An accident involving a towing vessel striking the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge on the Mississippi River last year has been attributed to the complacency of a

April 2, 2024
Total Views: 28134

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Damage to Mark E Kuebler stern hull and fendering system from the Nisalah propeller. (Source: NTSB)
Accidents

NTSB Reveals Cause of Tug and Tanker Collision in Corpus Christi Ship Channel

National Transportation Safety Board says speed and hydrodynamic forces played a role in a collision between a tugboat and a tanker in the Corpus Christi Ship

March 5, 2024
Total Views: 6468

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: 7703

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: 8875

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: 11714

Wednesday, January 31, 2024
seacor power capsized
Accidents

NTSB Urges Use of Personal Locator Devices to Boost Safety for Mariners

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a safety alert advising vessel owners and operators to equip each crewmember with a personal locator

January 31, 2024
Total Views: 4492

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: 5788

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: 20848

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: 4966

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: 1332

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: 4083

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: 56759

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: 2101

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: 4024

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: 6018

Thursday, August 31, 2023
The commercial dive boat Conception at sunrise prior to sinking, September 2, 2019. (Source: Ventura County Fire Department)
Accidents

NTSB Urges Coast Guard to Act on Passenger Vessel Safety Recommendation

The National Transportation Safety Board is renewing its call for the U.S. Coast Guard to strengthen passenger vessel safety in response to 2019 fire aboard

August 31, 2023
Total Views: 4845

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: 20431

Wednesday, July 26, 2023
The George M after the collision
Accidents

Excessive Speed Caused Tug and Containership Collision in Houston Ship Channel -NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that excessive speed during a harbor-assist maneuver caused a tugboat to collide with a containership

July 26, 2023
Total Views: 4051

Wednesday, July 12, 2023
NTSB Report Highlights the Peril of Doubler-Plated Hull Repairs
Accidents

NTSB Report Highlights the Peril of Doubler-Plated Hull Repairs

The use of doubler plating in the repair of an uninspected fishing vessel’s hull eventually led to its sinking off Gloucester, Massachusetts, last year.

July 12, 2023
Total Views: 4072