Drd Towing News

Jeffersonville, Ind.-based barging company American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) said it has been cleared of any fault related to the 2008 Mel Oliver collision and resulting oil spill on the Mississippi River.The announcement comes after more than 13 years of legal proceedings and is the result of a settlement agreement reached on November 18, 2021, with the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Louisiana regarding the case.It was determined that fault for the collision and resulting oil spill belongs to Harvey…

DRD Towing Company, LLC., a marine company located in Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced in federal court by U. S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to two years probation for violation of Ports and Waterways Safety Act and a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act and a $200,000 fine, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, Randall Dantin, age 46, a resident of Marrero, Louisiana and co-owner of DRD Towing, was sentenced to twenty-one months imprisonment in a separate charge of obstruction of justice. Dantin was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and serve two years supervised release during which time he will be under federal supervision and risks additional imprisonment should he violate any terms of the release.

DRD Towing Company, LLC., a marine company located in Harvey, La., pled guilty in federal court on Sept. 8 before U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to a felony violation of Ports and Waterways Safety Act and a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, Randall Dantin, age 46, a resident of Marrero, La. and co-owner of DRD Towing also pled guilty to a separate charge of obstruction of justice. According to the court documents, DRD Towing Company, LLC. pled guilty to creating hazardous conditions by (1) assigning employees without proper Coast Guard licenses to operate certain vessels…

American Commercial Lines, Inc. (ACLI) indicated that one of its liquid barges that was being towed by DRD Towing Company, L.L.C, of , , an independent towing contractor, was involved in a collision with the motor vessel Tintomara at Mile Marker 97 of the Mississippi River in the area. No personal injuries have been reported. The liquid barge was carrying # 6 oil. While ACLI is not responsible for the accident, the company is working closely with DRD Towing, the Coast Guard and other authorities in responding to the incident. The immediate focus is on an environmental assessment, containment and clean-up.

Joey Rodriguez was visiting one of the Gulf Coast�s major shipyards recently. To which the CEO responded, “And I am intimidated by what you are able to build without all this equipment and space.”This exchange sums up the respect that Rodriguez has earned over the years for the quantity and quality of vessels that he has been able to build and deliver from his small yard in Bayou LaBatre, The key to his success is the ability that he and his crew have of making do and careful on-site planning. Years ago Rodriguez had someone come in and teach him how to use a computer-assisted design program with which he has designed numerous vessels as well as doing the engineering design work on many others.

Maintenance and Cure is the obligation of a ship owner who employs seamen to care for them in the event that they are injured or become ill during their service to the vessel. This duty can be traced back to medieval maritime law. What is maintenance and cure? Maintenance is the right of a seaman to food and lodging if he falls ill or becomes injured while in the service of his vessel. Cure is the right to necessary medical services. The duty of the Jones Act employer to pay maintenance and cure is triggered when the seaman falls ill or is injured regardless of fault. A claim for maintenance and cure may be asserted by anyone who is a Jones Act seaman. To be eligible the seaman must be acting in the service of his vessel at the time of the illness or injury.