Accident report: forecast severe weather sinks tugboat causing US$2M damage

When Baylor J Tregre was listing to port, the mate attempted to reach the doghouse to release the tow, but the doghouse was inaccessible because it was partially submerged.

“Additionally, even if the mate could have reached the doghouse, the winch engine was not running, and the engineroom was inaccessible because the vessel was heeling so far to port,” said the NTSB.

Accident and salvage details

Crew climbed out of the wheelhouse through the starboard door because the port wheelhouse door was almost in the water. “The sea state worsened, with 6-ft to 7-ft seas, and the vessel continued to sink by the stern with a heavy port list. After a wave blew the wheelhouse windows out, the vessel sank,” the NTSB described in its report.

On 15 May, the tow wire connecting the Marmac 27 to sunken Baylor J Tregre was cut, and the loaded barge was towed to Freeport, Texas.

During salvage operations between 18 May and 15 June,  Baylor J Tregre was found in an inverted position on the sea floor. It was successfully raised and transported to a salvage dock in Galveston on 12 June.

In its report, the NTSB said the NWS sent out multiple weather warnings and forecasts including at 1257 for severe thunderstorms in southwest Louisiana, southeast Texas, and coastal waters. At 1501, the NWS issued a special marine warning, applicable to coastal waters near Galveston, including Baylor J Tregre’s route, for severe thunderstorms capable of wind gusts to 40 knots, large hail and frequent lightning. This warning advised mariners to “move to safe harbour until hazardous weather passes.”

On Baylor J Tregre, crew received daily weather reports from Trinity Tugs shoreside staff and monitored VHF radio for marine weather broadcasts.

According to the mate, the forecast for that day included a chance of thunderstorms throughout the day into the evening. “He stated that the daily weather report forecast matched the weather report he had heard over VHF radio,” said the NTSB.

The mate was in the wheelhouse managing navigation with the captain in his stateroom at the time of the listing to port. At around 1647 to 1650, high winds slowed Baylor J Tregre progress to 1.8 knots, according to automatic identification system (AIS) data, and the anemometer display in the wheelhouse indicated a wind velocity of 45 knots.

In the report, NTSB said the mate attempted to steer Baylor J Tregre into the wind, but then lost sight of the barge in a hailstorm. He then called the captain who arrived quickly and saw the main deck stern bulwarks were underwater.

By 1654, the vessel’s speed had dropped to 0.6 knots, according to AIS and estimated wind speeds were about 85–100 mph, about 74–87 knots.

The mate told investigators, “I think it was a waterspout; it took the barge and brought it around to the side of us and the towline and the barge pulled us over.” The mate then sounded the general alarm and crew tried to get to the doghouse on deck to release the tow, but it was under water.

The mate stated he could not use the tow winch to pull in the tow because the winch was controlled from the doghouse, and the tow winch drive engine, located in the upper engine room, would need to be started, which was impossible due to water ingress.

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