# NTSB: ‘Downstreaming’ in swift current led to fatal capsizing – Professional Mariner

> The National Transportation Safety Board found that a fleet boat captain's decision to downstream into swift current was a leading cause of a fatal Mississippi River capsizing on May 30, 2015, near Romeville, Louisiana. The approaching towboat's failure to hold position also contributed. The towboat owner disagrees with the finding.

- Date: 2017-01-30 · published 2017-01-30T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/72902-ntsb-downstreaming-in-swift-current-led-to-fatal-capsizing-professional-mariner
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

The finding has little direct effect on grain prices. It may prompt safety reviews that could briefly affect river navigation practices.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2020-08-03 | [Inquiry finds captain’s inexperience in fleeting areas led to sinking – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/51511-inquiry-finds-captain-s-inexperience-in-fleeting-areas-led-to-sinking.md) | -1.4% | +7.2% |
| CORN | 2018-11-30 | [Barge string breaks free after towboat hits Upper Mississippi dike – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61946-barge-string-breaks-free-after-towboat-hits-upper-mississippi-dike-professional.md) | +8.0% | +8.5% |
| CORN | 2018-04-25 | [Damaged lock forces closure of Mississippi River in Illinois – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65675-damaged-lock-forces-closure-of-mississippi-river-in-illinois-professional.md) | +2.4% | +5.0% |
| CORN | 2019-10-01 | [‘Unprecedented’ flooding idles barges, raises dredging concerns – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56463-unprecedented-flooding-idles-barges-raises-dredging-concerns-professional.md) | +1.5% | -0.6% |
| CORN | 2016-12-08 | [Flanking, downstream \| tugster: a waterblog](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73380-flanking-downstream-tugster-a-waterblog.md) | +0.9% | +0.3% |
| SOY | 2020-08-03 | [Inquiry finds captain’s inexperience in fleeting areas led to sinking – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/51511-inquiry-finds-captain-s-inexperience-in-fleeting-areas-led-to-sinking.md) | -3.0% | +5.9% |
| SOY | 2018-11-30 | [Barge string breaks free after towboat hits Upper Mississippi dike – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61946-barge-string-breaks-free-after-towboat-hits-upper-mississippi-dike-professional.md) | +3.3% | -0.5% |
| SOY | 2018-04-25 | [Damaged lock forces closure of Mississippi River in Illinois – Professional Mariner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65675-damaged-lock-forces-closure-of-mississippi-river-in-illinois-professional.md) | +2.0% | +0.8% |

## Sources

- professionalmariner.com: https://professionalmariner.com/ntsb-downstreaming-in-swift-current-led-to-fatal-capsizing/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.