Allision of Michael G Morris Tow with Thebes Railroad Bridge

What Happened

On April 6, 2016, about 0343 local time, the towing vessel Michael G Morris, pushing 30 loaded grain barges, allided with the Thebes Railroad Bridge at mile marker (mm) 43.7 on the Upper Mississippi River in Thebes, Illinois. The vessel and the bridge sustained no damage, but all barges broke away and 16 of them incurred $850,000 in estimated total damage. No pollution or injuries were reported.

What We Found

​The probable cause of the allision of the Michael G Morris tow with the Thebes Railroad Bridge was the pilot not correctly accounting for the river current in the bend just above the bridge, resulting in his late and ​insufficient use of rudder while making the turn.

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