The following is a marine accident brief from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):
(WASHINGTON) — On Oct. 13, 2016, at 0108 local time, the articulated tug-barge (ATB) Nathan E. Stewart/DBL 55 ran aground on Edge Reef off Athlone Island in the Seaforth Channel near Bella Bella, British Columbia. At the time of the accident, Nathan E. Stewart was en route to the Port of Vancouver with the empty DBL 55. None of the crewmembers were injured, but environmental damage occurred when approximately 29,000 gallons of fuel and lube oil were released. Damage to the vessel and barge was estimated at $12 million.
Probable cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the grounding of the articulated tug-barge Nathan E. Stewart/DBL 55 was the second mate falling asleep while on watch. Contributing to the grounding was the ineffective implementation of the company’s safety management system procedures for watch standing.
Click here to read the report.
