What Crew Members Say About Kaleen-Mcallister

A recent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board has revealed that the tugboat "Kaleen McAllister" sank near Locust Point due to a miscalculation by the mate in charge. The incident, which occurred on the evening of May 4, 2013, was detailed in a report made public on November 25, 2014. The mate first sensed something was amiss while maneuvering the harbor assist tug away from Pier 1, where he felt a notable rumble beneath the hull. The tug was navigating over a previously collapsed pier, an area that had left its remnants as hazards since the late 1990s. Although this hazard was well-documented and charted, the mate mistakenly believed the tug had cleared it. As flooding rapidly ensued, the mate called for the captain to join him in the wheelhouse, and together with a deckhand, they rushed to the engine room only to find significant flooding. Despite the captain's efforts to steer the vessel back to safety, the flooding accelerated beyond the pumping capacity, causing the tug to begin listing dangerously. The Coast Guard and Baltimore Fire Department were swiftly on the scene with additional pumping equipment, but as the situation worsened, it became evident that their efforts would not suffice. The crew took immediate action to mitigate environmental damage by sealing the diesel fuel tank vents with plastic and tape amidst the rising water levels, creating a serious electrocution hazard. Within 40 minutes of the initial disturbance, the "Kaleen McAllister" had completely submerged, leading to an oil spill of approximately 2,400 gallons into the harbor. An oil spill response team quickly deployed booms around the sunken tug, whose only visible part was the top of its wheelhouse. The tug remained underwater for three weeks before being successfully refloated on May 25, 2013. Divers later discovered a substantial hole, measuring 3 feet by 1 inch, in the hull of the vessel. Post-incident drug and alcohol tests for the master, mate, and deckhand returned negative results. The NTSB's report did not offer any additional safety recommendations, and the vessel is currently housed in the company's repair facility in New York, with estimated damages pegged at $1.5 million. While environmental groups have called for increased scrutiny of tug and barge operations transporting crude oil through Baltimore's waterways, they refrained from commenting specifically on the oil leak caused by the "Kaleen McAllister."

In a dramatic turn of events on the evening of May 4, 2013, the tugboat "Kaleen McAllister" succumbed to the waters near Pier 3 in Locust Point, Baltimore, shortly before 10 p.m. Fortunately, all crew members had vacated the vessel prior to the sinking, and there were no reported injuries. The incident occurred after the tug struck a submerged object, leading to significant damage and an influx of water. The U.S. Coast Guard received alerts of the distress situation before midnight. Despite the immediate response from nearby vessels, including the "Robert E. McAllister" and Dann Marine Towing's "Treasure Coast" and "Sun Coast", attempts to assist the stricken tug were unsuccessful. Efforts to pump water out faster than it was entering the tug proved futile, leading to its gradual submersion, which began around 7:30 p.m. and completed shortly before 10 p.m. At the time of the incident, the tug was carrying approximately 22,900 gallons of fuel and 710 gallons of lubricating oil. Following the sinking, a minor diesel fuel and lube oil leak was reported, prompting authorities to establish a boom around the site to mitigate any environmental impact. McAllister has reached out to Miller Environmental Group for cleanup efforts and is exploring options to recover the tug, potentially utilizing inflated air bags, followed by repairs at a shipyard.