What Happened
What Happened
On March 8, 2024, about 1550 local time, the towing vessel Amber Brittany was transiting upbound on the Ohio River, pushing a 15-barge tow, when the tow struck the vane dike at the upstream end of the McAlpine Locks and Dam in Louisville, Kentucky, and broke apart. There were no injuries, and no pollution was reported. Total damages to the barges, cargo, and dam gates were estimated at $1.3 million.
What We Found
What We Found
We determined that the probable cause of the contact of the Amber Brittany tow with the vane dike was the pilot not effectively compensating for the outdraft current while navigating out of the lock channel entrance, likely due to the pilot’s inexperience in transiting the Portland Channel on the Amber Brittany and his distraction due to cell phone use.
What We Recommended
Preparing for Dam Outdrafts
Lock canal entrances near dams present unique hazards for vessels transiting inland rivers. Fast moving river water near low-flow canal waters can produce outdraft currents. Mariners should thoroughly assess the potential impact of outdraft currents when entering or exiting locking channels. Vessel horsepower and vessel handling should be carefully considered.
Maintaining Awareness in Areas of Restricted Navigation
Lock canal entrances require heightened situational awareness from vessel operators. Using cell phones and other wireless electronic devices has been demonstrated to be visually, manually, and cognitively distracting. Talking on cell phones can have serious consequences in safety-critical situations, and sending or reading text messages is potentially even more distracting than talking because texting requires visual attention to the display screen of the device. Mariners should avoid using mobile devices, especially while maneuvering in unfamiliar areas of restricted navigation.
