The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the Dredge200 and the R.E. Pierson 2 in December 2, 2018 was the decision by the tow captain and owner to attempt a transit in forecasted wind and waves that exceeded their original plan for the voyage. A workboat and barge sank, resulting in nearly $2 million in losses.
Although the captain and owner had a discussion regarding a plan for the tow configuration and set a limit of 4-foot seas for the voyage, they proceeded through the canal and into Cape Cod Bay despite knowing that the weather forecast called for seas that exceeded the limits they established for the voyage.
NOAA Surface Analysis Dec. 2, 2018 1800 UTC
Read the entire NTSB report “Capsizing and Sinking of Barge Dredge200 and Loss of Workboat R.E. Pierson 2 Pushed by Tugboat Big Jake”
Marine casualty
