About 0938 local time on March 12, 2018, the towboat Natalie Jean was pushing an empty fuel tank barge upriver on the Lower Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana, when the towboat became caught on the port anchor chain of the anchored bulk carrier Atlantic Fairy. The towboat capsized and quickly sank; the barge broke free and collided with the bulk carrier. Two of the three crewmembers on board the towboat died in the accident. Damage estimates exceeded $500,000.
The probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the Natalie Jean was the company's decision to place an inadequately vetted pilot on board the vessel who did not have previous experience operating the Natalie Jean.
