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Maritime News

Coast Guard finishing investigation into Mississippi River oil spill


Posted on Jul 22, 2009

A collision between an oil barge and a ship on the Mississippi River that resulted in a 280,000 gallon fuel oil spill and shut down the waterway for a week was the subject of a recently completed Coast Guard investigation.

 

The oil barge was being pushed by the ‘Mel Oliver’ towboat at the time of the collision.  According to testimony by a variety of witnesses the master-licensed pilot who should have been at the helm of the towboat had abandoned the vessel several days before the accident, leaving an apprentice mate in charge.

 

The apprentice’s license prohibited him from piloting the towboat without a superior’s supervision, however no superior was present when the accident happened.  According to employee testimony the towing company made a habit of allowing low-level mariners to stand in for fully licensed pilots, a violation of the apprentice licensing rules.

 

The Coast Guard’s investigating officer Melissa Harper will forward her final report to Washington when it is complete, however it could be two months or more before results of Harper’s investigation is made public.

 

According to experts, fallout from the report could include major changes for the maritime industry.

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