SUSAN K

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Course/Position

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NTSB report in allision published

The allsion of the 'Susan K', which was transiting with 25 barges downbound on the Mississippi River toward the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge on April 23, 2023, with a bridge pier was caused by inattentiveness by the veteran Mississippi River towboat captain, who had 45 years of experience, resulting in the tow contacting a bridge pier and $2 million in damage, the National Transportation Safety Board reported on April 2, 2024. The 'Susan K' was downbound toward the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge around 10:42 p.m. on April 23, 2023, headed for the western channel under the bridge. But the captain’s attention slipped during the approach. “he tow was out of position for the intended route and the captain’s awareness of the situation came too late to avoid striking a bridge pier. The investigators found no evidence that the captain was fatigued, impaired or distracted. They noted the captain had decades of experience steering towing vessels and maneuvering tows, including hundreds of transits through the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge. Interviewed by investigators, the captain said his attention lapsed after rounding the river bend above the bridge, and too late he realized that he was way off his marks. Trying to recover and make for the eastern channel, the captain increased to full power and used rudder movements. But the tow contacted the center bridge pier, breaking up the tow, sinking one barge and damaging two others. The captain acknowledged that he was lulled by his own long experience. Full report: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2406.pdf