MEGAN MCB

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Tug pilot did not know how to operate the vessel

A pilot on board the "Megan McB" that sailed through a dam gate before it capsized in the Mississippi River on July 3, 2013, did not know how to operate the vessel, according to a federal investigation report. The "Megan McB" lost engine throttle control at 5:58 a.m. on July 3 while the crew was trying to move it into the main lock of Lock and Dam No. 7 in Dresbach. Strong currents swept the vessel into gate No. 1, where it overturned, trapping and killing deckhand Tyler Trussoni, 22, of Genoa, Wisconsin, one of three crew members aboard. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded the pilot couldn’t avoid the gate because he didn’t know how to use the tow’s electronic engine control throttle. The investigating agency also found tow owner Brennan Marine Inc. of La Crosse didn’t have a procedure that would guarantee pilots were familiar with the electronics unique to the "Megan McB". Brennan officials in a statement on Sep 30, 2014, called the NTSB investigation brief and said the report did not address a significant contributory factor that would have prevented the incident. The vessel is currently undergoing repairs at a shipyard where steps were taken to assure similar accidents do not happen again. Brennan had removed its vessel from the river on July 16 after about 50 gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the water. Damage to the "Megan McB", which remains out of service while Brennan installed air throttle controls, was estimated to be around $500,000. Report with photo: http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/report-pilot-of-capsized-tow-wasn-t-trained-copy/article_8c5acdce-739e-516f-80b2-c29f0de6e81a.html

Capsized tug raised and towed to French Island Yard

Crews from Brennan Marine recovered the "Megan McB" on July 17 from the Mississippi River, where it had sat since plunging over Lock and Dam No. 7 two weeks ago, killing one of the three crew members. The wreck was moved downstream and out of the main channel where salvage crews righted it and drained enough water to enable it to float. The listing, mud-covered wreck was towed to Brennan’s French Island shipyard. The Coast Guard, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, was conducting an investigation into what caused the tow to go over the dam’s roller gate, trapping 22-year-old deckhand Tyler Trussoni of Genoa inside. Two other crew members escaped unharmed. Law enforcement and Brennan blamed mechanical failure, high water and a strong current in the Mississippi River, but the Coast Guard said results of the investigation were not to be released until sometime in August. In the meantime, the Coast Guard oversaw the removal of more than 6,000 gallons of fuel and oil from the submerged vessel, and another 800 gallons that couldn’t be reached while it was in the river was removed on July 17. The next step wasto ensure the Megan McB is clear of harmful gasses before investigators could get aboard and begin the mechanical inspection.

One man dead in tug capsize

Specialized divers recovered the body of a 22-year-old man who drowned after the"Megan McB" lost power, sailed over a dam roller and capsized in the Mississippi River on July 3, 2013, in the morning. The man was trapped inside the third level when the vessel flipped on its side about 6:15 a.m. and lodged itself just below Lock and Dam No. 7. Divers recovered his body about 3:15 p.m. He was wearing a life vest. Two other crewmen escaped with minor injuries, Brand said. The emergency began just before 6:15 a.m. when the vessel lost power above the lock and dam. The crew did not alert lock operators of a Problem. The only two lock operators working witnessed the drifting tugboat tumble over the roller about 45 seconds after spotting it. One operator jumped into a rescue boat while the other helped load it into the water and called authorities. One of the survivors was gripping the tugboat’s railing. The other was floating in the water. Law enforcement, dive and rescue teams and fire departments from two counties, a helicopter and the U.S. Coast Guard launched a massive search for Trussoni with hopes he somehow emerged from the vessel. The Coast Guard shut down a six-mile stretch of the Mississippi until 5 p.m. The dam also closed to reduce the current. Emergency responders focused their search efforts on the tug, but a high water level and swift current made searching the massive vessel difficult, Brand said. It filled with water after coming to rest on concrete slabs beneath the surface. Rescuers in a basket attached to a crane atop the dam broke windows and tried to find Trussoni’s body with a pole before the specialized divers responded. Authorities also used a robot equipped with an underwater camera to search the vessel. Mechanical problems likely contributed to the capsizing. High water and a strong current were other factors. Report with photos: http://lacrossetribune.com/news/divers-recover-body-after-tug-loses-power/article_63f4ef7e-e457-11e2-b31d-001a4bcf887a.html