Captain's manoeuvring led to tug grounding on jetty in Ohio River, report says

A towing vessel grounded on a submerged jetty last year after the captain manoeuvred too close to a bank of the Ohio River, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Wednesday, June 25.

The towing vessel Tom Frazier was pushing 15 empty hopper barges near Portsmouth, Ohio, on February 10, 2024, when the vessel grounded, damaging the hull plating, framing and bulkheads and flooding several spaces.

The nine-person crew was safely evacuated to shore. An estimated five gallons (19 litres) of oil were released and the vessel sustained damage estimated at more than US$250,000.

The NTSB said that, as the Tom Frazier tow approached the US Grant Bridge, the captain made passing arrangements with another tow.

Tom Frazier’s captain manoeuvred the tow to port, toward the right descending bank, to facilitate the passing. The NTSB said the manoeuvre was outside the charted nine-foot (2.7-metre) depth contour line and too close to two stone jetties, which were submerged at the time.

The jetties were charted on the electronic navigation chart and visible on the vessel’s electronic charting system, but the captain did not identify the hazard.

The NTSB's marine investigation report 25-23​ is available online.