A towboat lost power on the Ohio River late on the night of May 31 while pushing 15 loaded coal barges downstream, prompting a multi-agency response to protect a nearby highway bridge from a potential strike. The U.S. Coast Guard alerted the Ravenswood, W.Va., Fire Department around 9:26 p.m. after the 160’x40′ Mackenzie Rose, owned by Imperial River Transport LLC, lost power while transiting downstream.
Crews monitored the area as the disabled tow drifted toward the William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 33 across the river between Meigs County, Ohio, and Ravenswood. Ravenswood Fire launched a rescue boat to assess the vessel while additional firefighters staged on standby.
A responding tugboat reached the Mackenzie Rose and brought the situation under control, securing the tow along the riverbank near Portland, Ohio, with no reported injuries. All units cleared shortly after 11 p.m. once the incident was stabilized.
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Original Article from WorkBoat | Written by Eric Haun
