A towboat lost power on the Ohio River late Sunday night while pushing 15 loaded coal barges downstream, prompting a multi-agency response to protect a nearby bridge from a potential strike.
The U.S. Coast Guard contacted the Ravenswood (W.Va.) Fire Department at approximately 9:26 p.m. on May 31 to request assistance after the 160'x40' towboat Mackenzie Rose, owned by Imperial River Transport LLC, Dunlevy, Pa., lost power while transiting downstream.
Crews were deployed to monitor the area as the disabled tow drifted, posing a potential collision risk to the William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 33 across the Ohio River between Meigs County, Ohio, and Ravenswood, W.Va.
Ravenswood Fire said it dispatched Rescue 22, Boat 24, Rescue 23, and Car 20, with nine personnel total responding to the scene. Boat 24 was launched and made contact with the Mackenzie Rose to assess its position and condition, while additional firefighters staged at Riverfront Park on standby.
A responding tugboat reached the disabled vessel and was able to bring the situation under control. The tow was secured along the riverbank near Portland, Ohio, without any reported injuries.
All units remained on scene until the incident was stabilized and cleared shortly after 11 p.m., officials said.
Additional agencies responding included the Ripley Volunteer Fire Department, Ravenswood Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Meigs County Sheriff's Office, and the West Virginia Department of Highways.
