WASHINGTON — An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board concluded on Wednesday that the pilot of a tow boat that hit a pier upriver from New Orleans last year had fallen asleep.
According to the NTSB, the pilot of the vessel John 3:16 was feeling the effects of fatigue while on duty during navigation along the Lower Mississippi River near Saint Rose, La., on Sept. 12, 2023.
The investigation revealed the pilot had less than two hours of continuous sleep – and less than 5 hours in two days – before striking the pier.
“A sleep deficit of as little as two hours can result in acute sleep loss and associated performance decrements, including decreased attention, slower reaction time, reduced vigilance, poor decision-making, and an inability to stay awake,” NTSB investigators explained in a media release following the findings.
The NTSB says fatigue is often a factor in marine casualties.
“Fatigue affects all aspects of human performance, including decision-making, alertness, and reaction time, all of which affect a mariner’s ability to safely navigate a vessel,” investigators claimed. “Mariners should understand the performance effects of sleep loss and recognize the dangers of working on board a vessel while fatigued.”
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The final cost to repair the towing vessel and pier was $285,441.
Marine Investigation Report 24-22 can be read below:
