A pusher tug moving a barge at the Tappan Zee bridge construction site in New York apparently got caught in a mooring cable and partially sunk Thursday. The two crewmen escaped safely, police said.
The 48’x18’, 800-hp Potomac operated by the Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) consortium sank in shallow water near the west side of the Hudson River just after noon. TZC deployed containment booms around the vessel and no pollution was reported. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
On March 12, the 84’ tug Realist sank in an allision with a construction barge near the main channel, killing three crewmen. Their families recently filed lawsuits seeking $100 million in damages from tug operator New York Marine Towing, TZC and others.
Two weeks after the Realist sinking, the captain of TZC’s 52’ pusher tug Pilgrim died after collapsing in the wheelhouse of an apparent cardiac arrest.
