Classification
- Incident Type: Allision
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | MAUVILLA |
| Other Vessels | THOMAS B. McCABE; SCOTT PRIDE; RAMONA DOYLE |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | United States [US] |
| IMO Number | Not reported in reviewed source |
| Gross Tonnage | Not reported in reviewed source |
| LOA (m) | 25.9 |
| Crew Size | 4 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 1993-09-22 |
| Time | About 02:45 for bridge impact; about 02:53 for train derailment |
| Location | Big Bayou Canot railroad bridge, near Mobile, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 30.816667, -87.993333 |
| Region | United States |
| Fatalities | 47 |
| Injuries | 103 |
Key facts
- MAUVILLA departed the National Marine Fleet at about 00:55 while pushing six barges.
- Dense fog developed as the tow proceeded northbound, and the pilot became lost and disoriented.
- The tow struck and displaced the bridge span by about 38 inches.
- Amtrak train 2 was traveling about 72 mph when it struck the displaced bridge and derailed.
- Forty-two passengers and five train crewmembers died; 103 passengers were injured.
- SCOTT PRIDE rescued 20 people, MAUVILLA rescued 17 people, and RAMONA DOYLE assisted with firefighting.
Narrative
MAUVILLA departed the National Marine Fleet on the Mobile River at about 00:55 on 22 September 1993, pushing six barges in a two-row, three-column configuration. The crew consisted of a captain, a pilot, and two deckhands. The pilot took the watch before departure. After allowing the faster towboat THOMAS B. McCABE to pass, MAUVILLA continued northbound as visibility deteriorated.
The pilot exchanged radio information with THOMAS B. McCABE and learned that fog farther ahead had reduced visibility to zero. He considered securing the tow to the bank, but attempts to snag a tree were unsuccessful. The pilot could not see the head of the tow and used the radar while trying to identify his position. The NTSB concluded that he became lost and disoriented in dense fog and did not demonstrate adequate radar-navigation competency.
At about 02:45, MAUVILLA and its tow struck the Big Bayou Canot railroad bridge. The through-girder span was displaced about 38 inches. The bridge track was displaced, but the rail was not broken and the signal system continued to show clear or proceed indications. At about 02:53, Amtrak train 2, the Sunset Limited, reached the bridge at about 72 mph and derailed. Three locomotives, a baggage car, a dormitory car, and two passenger cars fell into the water. Locomotive fuel tanks ruptured and fires developed.
The four MAUVILLA crewmembers were uninjured. SCOTT PRIDE rescued 20 people, MAUVILLA rescued 17 people, and RAMONA DOYLE arrived at about 04:00 to assist with the fire. Forty-two passengers and five train crewmembers died, and 103 passengers were injured. The NTSB identified failures in radar competency, company oversight, inland-towing licensing standards, and national bridge-vulnerability assessment as causes or contributing factors.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1993-09-22 00:55 | MAUVILLA departed the National Marine Fleet pushing six barges. |
| 1993-09-22 about 02:15 | The towboat radioed THOMAS B. McCABE as fog worsened. |
| 1993-09-22 about 02:45 | MAUVILLA and its tow struck and displaced the Big Bayou Canot bridge. |
| 1993-09-22 about 02:53 | Amtrak train 2 struck the displaced bridge and derailed. |
| 1993-09-22 about 04:00 | RAMONA DOYLE arrived and assisted with firefighting. |
| 1994-09-19 | The NTSB adopted the railroad-marine accident report. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of situational awareness in fog | Confirmed finding | The NTSB found that the pilot became lost and disoriented while visibility was severely restricted. |
| Lack of radar-navigation competency | Confirmed finding | The pilot lacked the competency needed to use radar to navigate the tow in reduced visibility. |
| Company oversight | Confirmed finding | Warrior & Gulf Navigation Company failed to ensure that its pilot was competent to navigate by radar. |
| Inland-towing licensing standards | Confirmed finding | The Coast Guard had not established higher operator-licensing standards for inland towing vessels. |
| Bridge-vulnerability assessment | Confirmed finding | The lack of a national program to assess bridge vulnerability to marine collision contributed to the accident. |
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the railroad-marine accident and published its report on 19 September 1994. It determined that the bridge displacement resulted from the MAUVILLA tow's impact while the pilot was lost and disoriented in fog. The report records 47 deaths and 103 passenger injuries. The reviewed source material does not confirm MAUVILLA's IMO number, gross tonnage, direct damage, or economic damage.