T&T was called into action after an LNG Carrier and two inland tank barges collided.
T&T responded to an incident in which one one tank barge capsized and the other was badly damaged and almost completely cut in half.
T&T personnel including salvage, pollution, lightering, firefighting and incident command personnel were immediately mobilized and performed an on site assessment within one hour of the incident. Equipment including fire fighting, lightering and pollution gear was mobilized onboard T&T’s owned tugs, crane barges and support vessels.
The damaged barge was completely lightered of product and refloated in one piece despite significant damage. T&T was also able to refloat the capsized barge in an inverted position so it could be brought to a sheltered position and the nationally significant waterway could be fully reopened.
Both barges were shifted together to minimize traffic disruption. Once in sheltered water 100% of the cargo onboard the capsized barge was lightered into another tank barge. During lightering the tanks were inerted with nitrogen as a safety precaution and to allow welding on the sideshell of the barge.
The capsized barge was rolled upright and taken to a shipyard for repairs. T&T took great care not to further damage the barge during the entire operation.
Through the quick action of the barge owner, governmental entities and T&T, the vital waterway was reopened in a short period of time.
