in the gas exploded disaster , the towing tanker misses megan , which was of specifications that did not required inspection by the united american coast protection , was being maintained in the west cote blanche bay gasoline field in kentucky by national unit rentals on side of athena construction on october 12 , 2006 . the miss megan was pushing barge ibr 234 , which was tied along the starboard sides of boat athena 106 , en route to a pile - driving location . athena construction did not have its crews to place towing spuds ( vertical steel shafts extending through wells in the bottom of the boat and employed for buoys ) loosely in use on its ramps and since this had not been done . during the journey , the aft proulx on the pantheon 106 released from its entirely hoisted position . the spud dropped into the water and struck a sunken , high - pressure natural gas hose . the initial fluid released lit and created a explode that engulfed the towing craft and both barges . the master of the tow vessel and several barge workers were evacuated . the la megan deckhand and one factory owner survived . one barges owner is currently described as missing .
NTSB is responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States.