COLLISION OF THE TUG CAROLYN AND WEEKS BARGE 254 WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE AND TUNNEL ON OR ABOUT 21 SEPTEMBER 1972 WITHOUT LOSS OF LIFE. MARINE CASUALTY REPORT

On September 20, 1972, the tug CAROLYN, towing the barge WEEKS No. 254, lost all propulsion in the Chesapeake Bay. The vessels drifted in heavy winds and collided with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. Two other vessels, the Coast Guard Cutter MADRONA and the tug WARRENGAS, were standing by to assist the CAROLYN and its tow at the time of the collision. As a result of the initial collision and of subsequent impacts by the barge during the next several hours, the bridge structure was heavily damaged. This report contains the action taken by the National Transportation Safety Board in determining the probable cause of the casualty and in making recommendations to prevent its recurrence. The report also contains the Marine Board of Investigation report and the action taken by the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Transportation Safety Board

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20594

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Publication Date: 1974-1-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Crash investigation; Crashes; Fatalities; Towboats; Towing vehicles; Water transportation crashes
• Old TRIS Terms: Bridge collisions; Ship casualties; Ss carolyn; Towboat collisions; Towing accidents
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00054456
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: USCG-NTSB-Mar-74-2
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 18 1978 12:00AM