Sleep Apnea
On June 23, 1995, the cruise ship Star Princess, carrying 1,568 passengers and 639 crew, grounded on charted and marked Poundstone Rock in the Lynn Canal of Alaska. Although there were no deaths or injuries, the ship’s bottom was ripped open. Repairs cost $21.16 million. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause was the pilot’s poor performance, which may have been exacerbated by chronic fatigue caused by sleep apnea. Among other things, the NTSB recommended that the U.S.
Hearings Adjourn in Port Arthur
The Coast Guard adjourned the formal hearings, Thursday, March 11, concerning the Jan. 23, 2010, incident involving the tank vessel Eagle Otome, the Gull Arrow and the tug Dixie Vengeance. The incident resulted in more than 400,000 gallons of oil being spilled into the Sabine-Neches waterway. Eric Lewis, the VTS watchstander, testified concerning his training, maritime experience, and the details of the displays and sensors he monitors as a watchstander. He also described his watch and the geographic area of the waterway he monitors.
Sabine-Neches Waterway Open, Limited Traffic
The Unified Command, consisting of the Texas General Land Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Eagle Otome's owner, opened the Sabine-Neches Waterway on Jan. 27 to limited traffic after moving the tank vessel Eagle Otome to the Sunoco oil terminal in Beaumont on the evening of Jan. 26. "The Unified Command has been working closely to get the waterway back open as safely as possible," said Coast Guard Capt. J.J. Plunkett, captain of the port and federal on-scene coordinator for the response. Three tugs escorted the Eagle Otome, while two boats carried boom to prevent further spillage and a fire fighting barge was on scene to prevent any fires. Two pilots were on board the ship to further ensure its safe transit to Beaumont.
Unified Command Responds to Port Arthur Spill
At 12:17 a.m. Jan. 24, the Dixie Vengeance and two barges were separated from the Eagle Otome and moored on the east bank of the Sabine Neches Waterway. The Unified Command continues to respond to the spill, ensuring the safety of the public and minimizing environmental impact. Currently 11 skimmers are conducting operations and air monitoring is on-going. A collision between the towing vessel Dixie Vengeance with the two barges it was pushing, and the 807-ft tank ship Eagle Otome, resulted in damage to the Eagle Otome, which was loaded with crude oil. The current estimate of spilled oil is 420,000 gallons. The Sabine Neches Waterway…
Port Arthur Vessel Collision
The Coast Guard and agency partners have formed a Unified Command in response to an oil spill in the Port of Port Arthur, on Jan. 23. Vessel Traffic Service Port Arthur received notification at 9:30 a.m. reporting a collision between the towing vessel Dixie Vengeance and the two barges it was pushing, and the 807-ft tank ship Eagle Otome. As a result of the collision, the Eagle Otome sustained damage in the vicinity of the number one starboard tank, which was reported to be loaded with crude oil. The initial estimate of spilled oil is 450,000 gallons.
