NTSB Issues Report on Construction Barge Fire
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued the report of its investigation into the fatal explosion and fire on an uninspected construction barge on October 12, 2006 on West Cote Blanche Bay, La. The incident resulted from the unexpected release of a mooring spud. Two construction barges were being pushed by a towboat across the bay. One of the raised mooring spuds on one of the barges suddenly dropped (possibly due to a failure of the winch brake mechanism). The spud struck a submerged high-pressure natural gas pipeline, rupturing the pipeline and causing an explosion and fire that engulfed the towing vessel and both barges. The master and four barge workers were killed, two crewmembers survived, and one crewmember is missing.
Safety Board Determines Cause of 2006 Barge Fire
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the failure of Athena Construction to require its crews to pin mooring spuds securely in place on its barges led to an unintentional release of one of the spuds. This resulted in a pipeline rupture that killed six. Blanche Bay oil field in Louisiana, en route to a pile- driving location. side of barge IBR 234. The Miss Megan was secured astern of IBR 234 pushing both barges. a well in the bottom of the boat and used for mooring) on the Athena 106 released from its fully raised position. The spud dropped into the water and struck a submerged, high- pressure natural gas pipeline. The resulting gas released ignited and created a fireball that engulfed the towing vessel and both barges.
NTSB Investigates Gasline Explosion
A tugboat and barge caught on fire here Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, after reportedly striking a natural gas pipeline. Photograph courtesy of Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of five investigators to the scene of a fire involving a towboat with two barges and a natural gas pipeline in West Cote Blanche Bay near Morgan City, LA. The accident occurred on October 12, when a piling dropped from one of the barges and struck a submerged high-pressure gas line, causing the line to rupture and catch fire. Preliminary information is that three people were killed and three are missing. This will be a joint investigation with the U.S. Coast Guard. The NTSB Investigator-in-Charge is Morgan Turrell.
