The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that distraction and failure to maintain a proper lookout caused the fatal collision between bulk carrier Yangze 7 and towing vessel Miss Peggy near Lynchburg, Texas.
The vessels collided on 19 July 2024 while both were inbound in the Houston Ship Channel. Miss Peggy capsized and sank with five crewmembers on board.
Four crewmembers were recovered by a good Samaritan vessel. One of them sustained serious injuries. The fifth crewmember was later found dead in the wreckage.
Investigators found that the pilot directing Yangze 7 had been on a non-operational phone call with another pilot for 39 minutes before the collision. The other pilot was directing a different vessel at the time.
The call ended two minutes and 16 seconds before the collision. The NTSB concluded that the distraction prevented the Yangze 7 pilot from becoming aware of Miss Peggy.
Lookout failures were also identified on both vessels. The captain of Miss Peggy did not detect Yangze 7 approaching from astern. The bridge team on Yangze 7 did not detect Miss Peggy until the towing vessel was less than one ship length ahead.
Following the investigation, the NTSB issued two safety recommendations.
The agency called on the U.S. Coast Guard to prohibit non-operational use of personal electronic devices by people directing vessel movements on waterways under its jurisdiction.
A separate recommendation was issued to the American Pilots’ Association. The NTSB called for guidance prohibiting pilots from non-operational use of personal electronic devices while actively directing vessel movements and for member associations to adopt similar requirements in their operational rules and policies.
The NTSB said personal electronic device distraction had been identified as either a contributing factor or the probable cause in at least 10 marine casualties between 2009 and 2024. Those incidents killed three people and injured 45.
