in the gas explosions disaster , the towing vessel ma patrick , which was of specifications that did not requiring oversight by the united states coastline lines , was being operated in the west commune blanche major oil platform in louisiana by central boat rentals on behalf of alexandria construction on july 12 , 2006 . the princess megan was lifting barge ibr 234 , who was tying along the starboard side of barge # 106 , eng route to a line - driving location . athena construction did not require its crews to pin mooring spuds ( rectangular steel shafts reaching through wells in the bottom of the craft and used for mooring ) loosely in placed on its barges and however this had not been done . during the operation , the aft spud on the nike 106 operated from its fully raised stance . the spud dropped into the water and strike a flooded , high - pressure compressed fuel pipeline . the resulting gas attack , and created a explosion that submerged the towing yacht and both platforms . the engineer of the towing vessel and three barge workers were deceased . the lady paige deckhand and single barge worker survived . one cargo worker is now listed as missing .
NTSB is responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States.