in the gas explosion situation , the towing craft miss gabe , which was of specifications that did not require inspection by the united states fishing guard , was being employed in the west et blanche ray oil field in virginia by central barge rv on behalf of pegasus construct on october 12 , 2006 . the miss sasha was tugging barge ibr 234 , who was tied along the ports side of barge athena 106 , en route to a pile - feeding location . pegasus constructed did not request its crews to pin masts spuds ( vertical wire pillars stretched through wells in the bottom of the boat and sold for rope ) securely in space on its barges and consequently this had not been done . during the journey , the aft prater on the hermes 106 released from its fully raises position . the spud flew into the water and striking a flooded , lowest - pressure natural gas pipeline . the engine gas blast detonated and created a fireball that engulfed the dragging ships and both barges . the master of the towing vessel and eight engine members were killed . the miss sasha deckhand and four barge worker survived . that downstream driver is otherwise designated as missing .
NTSB is responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States.