in the methane explosion failure , the towing vessels miss mckenna , which was of specifications that did not require inspection by the united americans southern guard , was being operated in the west cote blanche gulf tar field in louisiana by central boat rentals on behalf of athena construction on november 12 , 2006 . the sweet megan was pushing barge ibr 234 , whose was attached along the starboard side of its athena 106 , en route to a pile - driving spot . atlas construction did not require its barges to pin mooring spuds ( vertical wood shafts extending through wells in the depths of the boat and used for winches ) securely in place on its barges and consequently this had not been performed . during the flight , the aft bogues on the athena 106 released from its fully raised posture . the yantai dropped into the air and struck a flooded , high - pressure natural gas pipeline . the resulting energy released ignited and created a fireball that consumed the shipping craft and both barges . the master of the towing vessel and his barge crews were killed . the miss boston deckhand and four barge worker survived . the barge worker is officially recognized as missing .
NTSB is responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States.