MEL OLIVER

this is the real thing! July 23 '08 - 600' tanker TINTOMARA collides with one barge tow pushed by tug MEL OLIVER, spilling over 400,000 gallons no. 6 fuel oil into the mississippi

*** DISCLAIMER ***
I found this video on the Internet some years back, available to the public from the LA DOTD. I have absolutely no interest, opinion, or involvement with the event, and am only keeping it posted here for the sake of the general interest, and input of professional opinion, it has generated in the comments section.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Mississippi
• OIl
• Spill
• Tintomara
• Mel
• Oliver
• Ship
• Collision

[towboattrash2187]

I still think that the Federal pilot could've done something more to avoid the Mel Oliver. It seems, though, that most of those guys think they own the river. The rules read that if action by the give-way vessel alone is not enough to avoid collision then the stand-on vessel then must also take action to avoid collision as well. The risk of collision existed when Federal 16 picked up the radio the first time. He should've taken action sooner. Both parties were negligent.

[jeramie13800]

A ship can't just stop wen he's.going southbound in the river its cheaper for them to run over what ever lil tug is their way than to run it in to the bank and f.ck. up more shit

[2008shipwrecked]

Now who is suffering from this incident more than any one. The two deckhands that both had to go through surgery because of the idiots running the company couldn't do there jobs right. I had to get a disc taken outta my back at age 34 because i held onto the door so hard scared for my life that the impact jolted and ruptured my disc. The other deckhand tore his rotator cup in his shoulder trying to hold on for his life.

[2008shipwrecked]

drd is at fault just like i think the captain of the ship could have also tried to steer around us. The ship didnt even try anything. he was going faster than he needed to be going in the first place. I am not saying it wasnt the apprentice mates fault. he is an idiot for even leaving the dock with the barge in the first place. The captain was monitoring his girlfriend with a tracking device he snuck onto her car and left the boat several days before the accident to catch her cheating.

[2008shipwrecked]

I was the deckhand on this tug when this happened. I was in the galley cleaning so i could chill and watch tv till we made it to the fleet. When i heard the horn blow several times i knew something was not right so i ran to the galley door to see what was going on. All i had time to do was grab onto the door frame to keep from getting thrown across the tug. Seconds latter i watched the ship run us over and we bounced around the side of the ship.

[creoleDJ]

Totally the fault of DRD Towing, the (now defunct) company responsible for the Mel Oliver. I was working in the area during the time of the accident. I'll try to post a news link & more 411 on DRD, the captain who ran off the boat prior to the accident (he hauled ass to Illinois to check on his cheating girlfriend. You Dumbshit....lost his job & career over some tainted pussy!!), and the companies other antics.

[weavhipe]

@weavhipe laugh if i wanted to laugh i would ask you too send a picture of you penis so we could all bust a gut southbound does have the right of way . but then again you probably got grandfathered license ? i bet moron i bet mines bigger .but i do agree that he probably could have went to port more as he was not a heavy loaded tanker . went to see him on the two would have avoided it all together.but then again the steersman program wont work with morons anyway

[lar300mag]

@weavhipe, LOL, I cant but help not to laugh at you.

[weavhipe]

@lar300mag hey stupid southbound traffic has a following current not alot he could do so just stay stupid r keep your mouth shut stupid

[t3ddymac]

You brown water boys think that the world lives and dies on the river don't you? "Do what we do?" Forgive me for not bowing down to the great kings of the towboat world.