Our commitment to safety at Ergon extends beyond our own people. The crew of Magnolia Marine Transport Company’s (MMT) M/V Deborah Miles was awarded the American Waterways Operators’ HERO Award for their actions in response to a distress call on the upper Mississippi River. When a sailor lost control of his boat in heavy fog, quick decision making by the crew on the M/V Deborah Miles brought the sailor and vessel safely to dock.   

Scott Box, Captain of the M/V Deborah Miles, recalled that a call came through the dispatch while he was training Layton Martin, a Steersman for MMT. “There was fog on the water about 10 feet high, and we were northbound on the Mississippi. We heard a *pan-pan broadcast on Channel 16 [Coast Guard],” Captain Scott said.  

Because MMT’s vessel was near the reported location, Captain Scott and Layton quickly reacted. Layton immediately reduced the speed of the M/V Deborah Miles, and Captain Scott started coordination and communication with nearly 25 other towboats along the river to locate the distressed sailboat on radar. The boat, traveling from Minnesota into Mississippi, had already narrowly missed colliding with another towboat by only a few feet. Vessels nearby notified Captain Scott that the sailboat was drifting in their direction.  

“Not wanting to put my Steersman in a situation he’s never been in, I took over the helm,” Captain Scott said.  

Racing Against a Ticking Clock 

With little time to spare, the MMT crew developed two response plans.  

“Plan A was for me to go to the second deck to drop our *skiff so we could stop the sailboat from being at the mercy of the current,” Layton said.  

Before they could execute that plan, Captain Scott thought of a quicker, more efficient alternative — Plan B.   

“Our vessel was making way to the left side of our port side,” he explained. “I told the sailboat over Channel 16 that I was going to push my barges onto the Cora Island and stick my stern out to prevent his boat from drifting. I asked if he had a good line and he told me he did.”  

When the M/V Deborah Miles reached the island, the crew gained a clearer visual of the sailboat breaking through the fog. Captain Scott communicated over the radio that he would swing the stern out and bring it back in. This maneuver would create tension on the sailboat line, allowing the MMT crew to secure it safely against their vessel despite the strong current.  

“He threw the line to my crew, and they tied his sailboat off. I eased the stern in to make contact so it wouldn’t drift,” Captain Scott said. “When my guys checked on him, he was safe and uninjured.”  

However, the situation wasn’t fully resolved. The sailboat remained in danger because of how the current was pushing against the stern. Captain Scott instructed Layton to retake the helm and turn the tow so the sailboat’s bow faced the current for safest navigation.  

“So, I called the fleet boat working in the area,” Layton said. “He came down the lightboat, tied the sailboat to his vessel and brought him back up to dock at Cora Island.”  

A Hero’s Reward  

The MMT crew was awarded the American Waterways Operators’ HERO Award.   

“This was amazing that we all worked together,” Captain Scott said cheerfully. “I’m super proud of these guys for acting without hesitation during an all-hands-on-deck event.”  

Layton shared that sentiment: “We do weekly drills and safety meetings on different scenarios, which has prepared our crews to perform in situations like this, and that recognition belongs to MMT for placing safety before profits.”  

We also acknowledge and appreciate the support of the MMT office — Mike Carpenter, Kris Towers and Charles Thornton — for their alertness and coordination during this event. Thank you, team.  

 

*A pan-pan is an international radio emergency signal in aviation and maritime communications to indicate a situation of urgency for boats, ships, aircrafts and other vessels.  

*A skiff is a small, flat-bottomed boat with a sharp bow and square stern.