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FOGHORN
O
n Sept. 15, 2026, the Na-
tional Transportation Safety 
Board (NTSB) released “Saf-
er Seas Digest 2025,” a collection of 
safety lessons drawn from the NTSB’s 
marine investigations completed in 
2025.  This is an annual report 
Among the more high profile investiga-
tions featured in 2025 Safer Seas Digest 
are the allision of the containership 
Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge 
in Baltimore, Md., and subsequent 
bridge collapse, the hull failure and 
implosion of the Titan submersible 
while diving on the wreck of the HMS 
Titanic, and the fire aboard the roll-on/
roll-off container vessel Grande Costa 
D’Avorio in Newark, N.J., that claimed 
the lives of two firefighters.  
WHEN DOES THE NTSB 
GET INVOLVED?
The NTSB will participate in marine 
casualty investigations when they are 
determined to be “major marine ca-
sualties.” This includes incidents that 
resulted in the loss of six or more lives, 
the loss of a vessel of more than 100 
gross tons, property damage estimat-
ed to be above $2 million, or which 
the commandant of the U.S. Coast 
Guard and the NTSB jointly decide 
constitutes a serious threat to life, 
property, or the environment.
COMMON ISSUES
In her introduction to the 2025 Saf-
er Seas Digest, NTSB Chairwoman 
Jennifer Homendy noted several com-
mon issues associated with the marine 
casualty investigations completed in 
2025. “While each marine casualty is 
unique, our investigators uncovered 
some notable commonalities that all 
mariners should consider. These in-
clude the following: 
• Performing maintenance effectively 
• Effective voyage planning  
and management 
• Detecting and containing vessel fires 
• Assessing the condition of  
waterfront infrastructure 
• Ensuring watertight integrity 
• Accounting for bank effect 
• Combating fatigue and distraction 
• Properly securing and monitoring 
lithium-ion batteries 
• Mitigating the risks of a loss of 
electrical power 
• Planning and training for emergencies 
• Operating in strong currents or 
heavy-weather conditions 
• Operating equipment and  
machinery systems as designed” 
The above issues, with a couple ex-
ceptions, have been discussed at PVA 
meetings and in the pages of Foghorn 
for years. Current projects to improve 
deckhand safety training, best practices 
for carrying lithium-ion batteries, and 
emergency response training with local 
fire departments are in keeping with 
PVA’s proactive approach to safety.
DOMESTIC PASSENGER  
VESSEL INCIDENTS
Of the 49 marine casualty investiga-
tions completed by NTSB in 2025 
only three involved domestic passen-
ger vessels. Below is a summary, prob-
ably cause, and lessons learned from 
each incident.
M/V Columbia Gorge 
On Jan. 13, 2024, the small passenger 
vessel M/V Columbia Gorge broke 
away from its mooring on the south 
side of the Columbia River in Cascade 
Locks, Ore., during a high wind event. 
No one was on board the vessel at the 
time. The vessel drifted downriver and 
eventually struck the Thunder Island 
pedestrian bridge and three tribal fish-
ing platforms. There were no injuries 
and no pollution was reported. The 
NTSB determined the probable cause 
to be “…the high winds acting on the 
vessel, which exceeded the mooring ar-
rangement, leading to the vessel break-
ing away and drifting downriver.”
The lesson learned from this incident 
is that lines used aboard a vessel need 
to be periodically assessed to ensure 
satisfactory condition for their intend-
ed service. The NTSB further stated:
ERIC CHRISTENSEN // PVA DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS & RISK MANAGEMENT
NTSB Lessons Learned  
and a New Casualty Dashboard
SAFETY MATTERS

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