​​On March 18, 2025, about 1930 local time (central daylight time), the loaded (ethanol) barge MPC 1056 broke away from a fleeting area at the Evansville Marine Service facility in Owensboro, Kentucky, drifted downriver on the Ohio River, and struck the Evansville Boat and Ski Club Dock in Evansville, Indiana, damaging one pier. The barge continued drifting downriver and struck piers at the Nu Plaza Yacht Club, also in Evansville. There were no injuries, and no pollution was reported. Damages are expected to exceed $900,000.

The US Coast Guard has declared this incident a major marine casualty. The Coast Guard will lead the investigation, and the NTSB will investigate and determine the probable cause.   

​We determined that the probable cause of the breakaway of barge MPC 1056 and its subsequent contact with downriver marina docks was severe weather and strong current acting on the moored barge, which exceeded the holding capacity of its mooring arrangement.​

​Mooring Arrangements in Severe Weather

Severe weather at barge fleeting areas can include strong winds, wave chop, and high currents associated with higher river levels at flood stages, increasing the likelihood of mooring failures. Single-point mooring failures can ultimately result in vessels breaking away and causing damage to other downstream vessels and infrastructure. Operators should identify failure modes of mooring arrangements and implement controls, such as more frequent inspections and additional lines.