NTSB Safety Recommendation P-00-016

NTSB safety recommendation P-00-016.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: URGE YOUR MEMBERS TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN SHUT OFF THE FLOW OF NATURAL GAS TO PERMANENTLY MOORED VESSELS IN A TIMELY MANNER, EVEN DURING PERIODS OF HIGH-WATER CONDITIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 2000-09-27

Adopted Date: 2000-09-08

Overall Date Closed: 2001-01-05

Synopsis: About 1950 on April 4, 1998, a tow of the M/V Anne Holly, comprising 12 loaded and 2 empty barges, which was traveling northbound on the Mississippi River through the St. Louis Harbor, struck the Missouri-side pier of the center span of the Eads Bridge. Eight barges broke away from the tow and drifted back through the Missouri span. Three of these barges drifted toward the President Casino on the Admiral (Admiral), a permanently moored vessel (PMV) below the bridge on the Missouri side of the river. The drifting barges struck the moored Admiral, causing 8 of its 10 mooring lines to break. No deaths resulted from the accident; 50 people were examined for minor injuries. Of those examined, 16 were sent to local hospitals for further treatment. Damages were estimated at $11 million.

Ntsbnumber: DCA98MM027

Report Number: MAR-00-01

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-01-05

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-11-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 11/21/2000 4:42:25 PM MC# 2001717 AGA ALERTED ITS MEMBERS TO THE DETAILS OF THE 4/4/98 ACCIDENT IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR BY SENDING A COPY OF THE NTSB REPORT TO THE OPERATING VICE-PRESIDENTS IN MEMBER COMPANIES AND THE MEMBERS OF OPERATIONS SAFETY REGULATORY ACTION COMMITTEE. AGA POSTED A COPY OF THE NTSB LETTER ON ITS WEB-SITE. AGA URGED ITS MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICIPATE AS APPROPRIATE IN PORT CONTINGENCY PLANNING DRILLS INVOLVING PERMANENTLY MOORED VESSELS SUPPLIED WITH NATURAL GAS, AND ENSURE THAT GAS FLOWS CAN BE SHUT OFF IN A TIMELY MANNER EVEN DURING PERIODS OF HIGH-WATER CONDITIONS.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-01-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD NOTES THAT THE AGA ALERTED ITS MEMBERS TO THE DETAILS OF THE 4/4/98, ACCIDENT IN ST. LOUIS HARBOR BY SENDING A COPY OF THE SAFETY BOARD'S REPORT TO THE OPERATING VICE-PRESIDENTS IN MEMBER COMPANIES AND TO THE MEMBERS OF OPERATIONS SAFETY REGULATORY ACTION COMMITTEE, AND THAT THE AGA ALSO POSTED A COPY OF THE SAFETY BOARD'S 9/27/00, LETTER ON ITS WEB SITE. THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE AGA ALSO HAS URGED ITS MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICIPATE AS APPROPRIATE IN PORT CONTINGENCY PLANNING DRILLS INVOLVING PERMANENTLY MOORED VESSELS SUPPLIED WITH NATURAL GAS, AND ENSURE THAT GAS FLOWS CAN BE SHUT OFF IN A TIMELY MANNER EVEN DURING PERIODS OF HIGH-WATER CONDITIONS. ACCORDINGLY, BECAUSE THE AGA HAS TAKEN PROMPT ACTION AS REQUESTED, P-00-15 AND -16 ARE CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."