WESTERN TUGGER

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Miller Shipping pleaded not guilty to charges over fatal accident

The St. John's-based Miller Shipping has pleaded not guilty to charges laid over a fatal accident that killed a crew member on the "Western Tugger" off Newfoundland's south coast in May 2013. The company, as well as captain James Lejeune, were each facing five counts of violating the Transportation Safety Code of Canada. Lejeune has also pleaded not guilty to the charges. The "Western Tugger" was towing a barge of unsecured steel rebar through heavy fog inwhen a deckhand was struck by shards of a brake drum. The Transportation Safety Board reported in July 2014 that a sequence of events led to the fatality, including the barge listing and then capsizing, with the foggy weather delaying the crew's response. The tow line soon lifted out of the water, causing a severe strain on the winch and then the shattering of the secondary brake drum. The matter is due back in court in November 2014. REport with photos: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2013/M13N0014/M13N0014.asp

Report released into fatal tugboat accident

Bad weather and an emergency tow release that did not work were factors in a fatal accident last year involving a tugboat off the south coast of Newfoundland, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says. The Western Tugger was towing a barge called the Arctic Lift on May 10, 2013, when a tow line snapped and struck a crew member. The Transportation Safety Board released a report Tuesday identifying inclement weather and overloading as causes behind the accident, which happened about 60 kilometres southwest of Burgeo. The report says while it was being towed the barge listed, which may have been the result of several factors including flooding through hatches that weren’t properly sealed or unsecured cargo that shifted while en route. Investigators say the tugboat’s captain wanted to release the barge as a precaution in case it sank and directed a deckhand to the winch room to loosen a secondary brake that had been added to the winch to assist the main brake. Moments later, the forward end of the barge rose out of the water and it capsized, the report says. The safety board says the resulting strain on the secondary brake drum caused it to shatter and parts of it hit the deckhand, killing him. A number of safety issues were flagged by the safety board including unsecured cargo, hatches that weren’t watertight and an emergency tow release that could not be operated immediately. Source : metronews

Return of tug delayed by bad weather

The Transportation Safety Board was waiting for some clear weather to move forward with its investigation into a man’s death on the "Western Tugger" on May 10. Rough seas and high waves were delaying the tug boat’s return to Mount Carmel.  The tug was still at the site of the capsized barge it was pulling when the tow line snapped and struck the crewmember, killing him. The barge is about 70 kilometres southeast of Burgeo off the province’s south coast. Investigators were waiting for the crew to return so they can interview witnesses of the incident.