Towing Vessel Collision in Oregon caused $6 million in damages
On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report detailing an incident in which a deckhand fell asleep while operating a towing vessel, leading to a collision with a dock near Clatskanie, Oregon, causing $6 million in damages.
The accident occurred during the deckhand’s night watch, from midnight to 6 am, when he became fatigued towards the end of his shift. This fatigue was worsened by his recent switch from day to night shifts, disrupting his sleep-wake cycle.

Source: Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery
At 5:44 am, the vessel Cindy B, pushing the barge St. John, began to drift off course, leaving the main channel just minutes before striking the dock at 5:52 am. The captain had asked the deckhand to take the helm shortly before the accident while he went to the lavatory. Although the deckhand initially felt alert, he later fell asleep at the wheel, only waking up upon impact.
Investigators also noted a failure in the pilothouse alerted system, which malfunctioned due to a swinging VHF radio microphone resetting the system’s timers. The NTSB highlighted the need for proper procedures to ensure safety systems operate effectively and warned of the increased risk of accidents during night shifts, especially during the first two nights.
The report stresses the importance of managing crew fatigue in maritime operations, recommending measures like functioning alerted systems and longer rest periods between shifts. It emphasizes that while the effects of disrupted sleep cycles can’t be entirely eliminated, they can be reduced to enhance safety.