John A. Downs
- Type:
- shipwreck, tugboat, USA
- Type:
- Fraser Shipyards, Superior, WI as Frances A. Small
- Specs:
- ( 113 x 31 ft, 850 tons ) 8 crew
- Sunk:
- Sunday March 3, 1985
collision with one of its own barges - no casualties - Depth:
- 230 ft
This large tug was built in 1966 by Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin as the Frances A. Small for Bulk Navigation & Towing Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware. She was used to push and tow the dry bulk barge Wiltranco I on the Great Lakes, but this did not last long as the barge went aground in Lake Erie in 1967 after its towline parted. The tug was then sold in 1968 to the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Staten Island NY, and was renamed John A. Downs. She operated primarily on the east coast during her service with GLD&D. The John A. Downs sank in Long Island Sound on March 3, 1985 while en route from Boston, MA to New York, NY with no loss of life.
INCIDENT SUMMARY
ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 4, 1985 THE 113 FOOT TUG, JOHN A DOWNS, WITH 3 BARGES IN TOW BEGAN TO TAKE ON WATER. THE EMPTY BARGES WERE CUT LOOSE BUT THE VESSEL CONTINUED TO FLOUNDER. THE CREW OF 13 ABANDONED SHIP AND WERE RESCUED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD. ALL THREE BARGES WERE TAKEN IN TOW BY OTHER VESSELS. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 5 AN OIL SLICK WAS SIGHTED DURING LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS FROM A BUOY MARKED "2A" ON NOAA CHART 13211. THE MOST RECENT NUMBER FOR THIS BUOY IS "4" LOCATED AT 41 DEGREES 15.5 MIN NORTH LAT. AND 72 DEGREES 08.5 MIN WEST LONG. THE SLICK IS REPORTED TO EXTEND TO THE SOUTHWEST FOR 3/4 OF A MILE. NO WIDTH CAN BE OBSERVED. THE JOHN A DOWNS IS REPORTED TO HAVE 50,000 GALLONS OF #2 FUEL OIL AND 1,000 GALLONS OF LUBE OIL ON BOARD. USCG district 1.
-- USCG
506198
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