Classification
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Incident Type | Capsize girding |
| Severity | High |
| Investigation Body | National Transportation Safety Board |
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Vessel Name | Eagle |
| Vessel Names | Eagle; Killer Whale; MLC 280 |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | United States [US] |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | 181 |
| LOA (m) | 34.72 |
| Breadth (m) | 10.67 |
| Other Involved Vessels | Killer Whale; MLC 280 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Date | 1983-10-27 |
| Region | United States |
| Location | Gulf of Alaska, about 25 miles west-southwest of Cape Fairweather, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 59.0000, -145.0000 |
| Fatalities | 8 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | 0 |
| Direct Damage | USD 2.475 million |
| Economic Damage | |
Key facts
- Eagle was towing Killer Whale and MLC 280 when the casualty occurred.
- Conditions included winds of 50 to 60 knots and seas of 25 to 35 feet.
- Eagle capsized and sank at about 1530 Pacific daylight time.
- Nine people were aboard; one survived and eight died.
- The NTSB attributed the capsize to failure of the towing hawser fairlead system and identified the lack of remote pilothouse control for releasing the towing winch brake as a contributing factor.
Narrative
On 27 October 1983 at about 1530 Pacific daylight time, the U.S.-flag towing tug Eagle was towing the barges Killer Whale and MLC 280 in the Gulf of Alaska. The casualty occurred about 25 miles west-southwest of Cape Fairweather, Alaska, in severe weather that included winds of 50 to 60 knots and seas of 25 to 35 feet. Eagle capsized and sank. Nine people were aboard the tug; one survived and eight died. The NTSB determined that the towing hawser fairlead system failed. The failed system allowed the hawser to exert an overturning force on Eagle, leading to the capsize. The investigation also identified the absence of remote pilothouse control to release the towing winch brake as a contributing factor. The report valued Eagle at about USD 2 million and estimated damage to the barges at USD 75,000 for Killer Whale and USD 400,000 for MLC 280. The reported direct damage totals USD 2.475 million. The available investigation report does not establish a separate injury count for the surviving person, an IMO number, or the tug's power-conversion details.
Sequence of events
| Time | Event |
|---|
| 1983-10-27, about 1530 PDT | Eagle capsized and sank while towing Killer Whale and MLC 280 in severe weather in the Gulf of Alaska. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|
| Towing hawser fairlead system failure | Confirmed finding | The NTSB determined that the failure allowed the hawser to exert an overturning force on Eagle. |
| No remote pilothouse control to release the towing winch brake | Confirmed finding | The NTSB identified the lack of this control as a contributing factor. |
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the casualty in report MAR-84/07. Its determination identifies the failed towing hawser fairlead system as the cause of the capsize and the lack of remote pilothouse control for releasing the towing winch brake as a contributing factor. The report does not establish an IMO number, power-conversion figure, or separate injury count for the survivor.
References
