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8 • MarineNews • February, 2005 News Marine Safety Office Pittsburgh is investigating what caused the towboat Elizabeth Ann to go over a dam on the Ohio River near Industry, Pa. Three mem- bers of the seven member crew were recovered alive, three died and one is still missing. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Tim Tharp The Coast Guard was notified that the M/V Elizabeth M and three of the vessel's six loaded coal barges went over the dam and sank downriver from the Mont- gomery Lock, near mile marker 31 on the Ohio River. Local agencies and crewmen from sev- eral nearby towboats, including the Rock- et , Sandy Drake , and Lillian G respond- ed to the overturned vessel. Three victims were recovered at the scene. Three survivors were rescued and transported to Beaver Valley Medical Center and Aliquippa Hospital. One crewmember remains missing. The remaining three barges sank above the dam. The Elizabeth M, owned by Campbell Transportation of Charleroi released a statement in response to the accident, "The employees of Campbell Transporta- tion Company are deeply shocked and sorrowed by the tragic accident that occurred at the Montgomery Dam on the Ohio River on Sunday, January 9, involv- ing the crew of our Elizabeth M towboat. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our coworkers who lost their lives and with the survivors and their fam- ilies. "Safety has always been a top priority for this company, in our training programs and at all levels of operations. As a result, our overall safety record has been excel- lent and a source of great satisfaction for our employees. That is why this terrible incident, the most serious accident in our company's 60-year history, is such a harsh and personal blow to all of us. "Campbell Transportation is conducting a thorough and comprehensive internal investigation to determine as best we can exactly what happened. We also are coop- erating fully with the U.S. Coast Guard in its investigation. At this point, it is impossible to estimate how long it will take to complete these inquiries. Until more information about this tragedy is gathered and assessed, Campbell Transportation will have no fur- ther public comment on the incident. On January 19, the Coast Guard issued new restrictions on operators experienc- ing barge breakaways and towboat sink- ings in the Pittsburgh zone. The Coast Guard is now restricting all vessel operations and/or cargo transfers following any barge breakaway or tow- boat sinking until a detailed analysis, including causal factors and corrective measures to prevent further incidents, is received and approved by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port. Circle 205 on Reader Service Card Overturned Towboat Kills Three MN FEB05 (1-8).qxd 1/26/2005 3:34 PM Page 8
