Allision of the Dale A. Heller Tow with Marseilles Dam

What Happened

On April 18, 2013, about 1740 local time, the uninspected towing vessel Dale A. Heller was downbound on the Illinois River pushing a 14-barge tow and attempting to enter the Marseilles Canal, adjacent to the Marseilles Dam, when it encountered a strong cross current. Despite the assistance of three additional towing vessels, the Dale A. Heller was unable to get the tow past the dam and into the safety of the canal. Several barges broke away, struck and damaged the dam's gates, and then sank. In addition, the accident likely exacerbated rain-related flooding in the nearby city of Marseilles, Illinois. No one was injured in the allision; however, the damage to the barges and the dam totaled nearly $54 million.

What We Found

​The probable cause of the allision of the Dale A. Heller tow with the Marseilles Dam was the decision by all involved parties to proceed with the passage of the tow during a period of record-high water and significant risk. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the Marseilles Dam lockmaster and the Dale A. Heller captain to communicate effectively about the actual positioning of the dam’s gates before and during the transit.  

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