Today the The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a public meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss a fatal accident between a tugboat and a duck tour boat on the Delaware River.
The accident took place on July 7, 2010, when an empty barge being towed by the tugboat Caribbean Sea crashed into a duck tour boat causing it to sink in about 55 feet of water near Philadelphia. Two passengers on the duck tour boat were fatally injured with 26 others suffering minor injuries.
The crew member in charge of the tugboat at the time of the accident was using his personal cell phone and a company laptop computer from the lower wheelhouse to deal with a personal family issue. In their findings the NTSB addressed many issues, but it was made very clear that these actions were key factors in the accident.
"The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the mate of the Caribbean Sea to maintain a proper lookout due to his decision to operate the vessel from the lower wheelhouse, which was contrary to expectations and to prudent seamanship, and distraction and inattentiveness as a result of his repeated personal use of his cell phone and the company laptop computer while he was solely responsible for navigating the vessel."
Lessons learned
High profile accidents such as this put responsible use of technology in the spotlight. The lesson learned in this tragedy is that cell phones can be valuable tools, as well as fatal distractions.
In their recommendations as a result of the accident the NTSB made specific recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard regarding "nonoperational use of cell phones and other wireless electronic devices by on-duty crewmembers."
One of the conclusions in the report stated the issue directly, "Increased Coast Guard focus on and oversight of mariners’ use of cell phones and other wireless electronic devices will prevent accidents and save lives."
Local residents are well aware of restrictions on the use a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle. Delaware imposed cell phone restrictions on drivers starting earlier this year. Maryland enacted similar laws last year. The publicity surrounding this accident, as well as today's report will focus attention on the use of cell phones and other technology on the nation's waterways as well.
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