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Tag: Towboat

Ursa Major

Ursa Major

Ursa Major
Photo: Italian Coast Guard

The 46 meter long, 556 dwt towboat Ursa Major caught fire off Gioia Tauro, Italy. The Ursa Major was pushing a barge loaded with miscellaneous cargo from Taranto to Genoa when the fire broke out in the towboat. The crew requested assistance as the Ursa Major had been disabled by the fire and went adrift.  Authorities received the distress call and dispatched an Italian coast guard patrol boat to the scene. The patrol boat arrived with firefighters who were able to extinguish the blaze a short time later. No reports of injuries to the 13 crew on board.  No reports of pollution released.

Segesta

Segesta

Segesta
Photo: kurier.at

The 136 meter long towboat Segesta and its two barges were underway on the Danube near Strudengau, Austria when the barges suffered water ingress. The barges loaded with 800 tons of gravel had sprung a leak and begun to fill with water. The barges were secured to the shore and the local fire brigade was requested. The fire brigades from Nabegg and Neustadtl responded with dewatering pumps. Another barge was requested to aid with lightering the cargo of gravel. No reports of injuries.

Joe Bobzien

Joe Bobzien

Joe Bobzien
Photo: bp.blogspot.com

On January 3, the 55 meter long towboat Joe Bobzien ran aground on the Mississippi River near Caruthersville, Missouri. The Joe Bobzien was pushing 35 barges when it went struck bottom. The barges broke free causing traffic to stop along a 30 mile stretch of the river.  Reports state multiple vessels were deployed to assist recovering the barges. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.