The 13 meter long tugboat Birk caught fire off Hammerfest, Norway. The fire started in the tug’s engine room disabling the vessel. The two crew on board requested assistance. Another tug arrived on scene and towed the Birk to shore where the local fire brigade assisted to extinguish the blaze. No reports of injures or pollution released.
The 27 meter long tug RT Stephanie collided with two vessels in the port of Bremerhaven, Germany. The tug was attempting to pull the 180 meter long, 14487 dwt car carrier Atlas Highway when it struck the struck the stern of the 264 meter long, 48988 dwt car carrier Endurance then struck the Atlas Highway. The RT Stephanie had its wheelhouse windows smashed. No reports of injuries or pollution released. No reports of damage to either car carrier. The RT Stephanie proceeded to the shipyard for repairs. The water police reported the second collision was caused by the master of the tug attempting to avoid the first collision.
Two barges pushed by the 90 foot long tugboat Nature’s Way Endeavor struck a railway bridge over the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi. One barge suffered slight damage, but the other had its hull ripped open above the waterline. One of eight tanks each holding 80,000 gallons of light crude oil was punctured and leaked oil into the river. The amount of oil released was unknown. A containment boom was place across part of the river downstream from the barge. Skimmers have been deployed to clean up oily water from the river. No reports of damage to the railroad bridge and traffic was allowed to resume a short time later. No reports of injuries. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
