About 2230 on November 17, 1984, the U.S. tug M/V CELTIC and the barge CAPE RACE, which was secured to the tug's starboard side, suddenly sank in Long Island Sound, Connecticut, resulting in the loss of both vessels and the loss of the tug's six-man crew. The tug and the barge, loaded with scrap iron, were en route from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Port Newark, New Jersey, and were about 6 miles south of Norwalk, Connecticut, at the time of the accident. The value of the two vessels and cargo was estimated to be about $500,000. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of the tug CELTIC and barge CAPE RACE was the failure of the owner of the barge to maintain the barge adequately, which allowed the internal structure and shell plating of the barge to deteriorate until the barge sustained a hull failure, resulting in the flooding of the forward part of the barge, causing the barge to plunge underwater bow first and sink.


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    Title :

    Marine Accident Report - Sinking of the U.S. Tug M/V CELTIC and Barge CAPE RACE, Long Island Sound, Connecticut, November 17, 1984


    Publication date :

    1985


    Size :

    31 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English