As Jacob Kyle Rusthoven melted, towboats pressed barges towards the financial institution (USCG photo).
The National Transportation Safety Board has actually released a record on a September 12, 2018 event in which a fire burst out aboard the 1968-built towing vessel Jacob Kyle Rusthoven while it was pressing 9 barges southbound on the Lower Mississippi River at mile 673.8, about 6 miles north of West Helena,Arkansas
As the fire spread, 3 of the barges escaped from the tow, as well as one surrendered as well as shed its freight. All 6 staff participants deserted the vessel onto the barges, where they were saved by a Good Samaritan vessel.
Due to smoke breathing, the staff was later on sent out to the medical facility as well as released the very same day. No contamination was reported. The Jacob Kyle Rusthoven, valued at an approximated $1.5 million, melted totally.
LIKELY REASON
The National Transportation Safety Board identifies that the potential root cause of the engine space fire on board the hauling vessel was an engine lube oil leakage that fired up off a warm surface area near the starboard major engine turbocharger. Contributing to the intensity of the fire was the absence of staff procedures to trigger the engine gas supply shutoffs as well as protect open doors aerating the engine space.
Download the NTSB record HERE
